"Rennes is a top end of the table team. Last year, they caused us problems, even in the Coupe de France. They don't leave any space. Against us, our opponents always change a few things. Rennes are used to a high press, but I don't think they'll do that on Friday because they're a team that adapts. My job is to cope with this and find solutions. They're a top end of the table team. There are no easy matches, there will be problems, but I'm an optimistic person when it comes to matches like this. We're playing at the Parc and that gives us a boost. Arsenal? I won't be thinking about Arsenal at any time during the game against Rennes. We have to win the game against Rennes, everything else is in the future and doesn't interest me at the moment."
"Everything's going well, there's been progress compared to last season. The style of play is getting closer and closer to what I want to achieve. I'm very happy and satisfied. Over the course of a season, things evolve, there are good moments and there are not-so-good ones. It's part of the logical process of growing a team. The team solves the problems our opponents cause us. I know the club's standards and objectives. We want to go down in history, and to do that we have to win everything we can."
"What I want from him is the same as what I want from all the players in the midfield. He's perfectly adaptable to my philosophy of play. He has the vital characteristic of not losing the ball. There's his vision, his physical strength, his intelligence and his relationship with his team-mates. He adapts very quickly. He and the other players who have arrived have a good connection with the rest of the team."
