2023-12-14 14:31:51
He arrived at the press conference all smiles and very relaxed. Knowing that he was going to be questioned insistently about his possible premature departure to Sunderland (English D2), which has made a lot of noise in recent days, Will Still (31), coach of Reims under contract until June 2025, answered questions with mischief and irony. While the manager says: “If I really wanted to leave, I would have left before”, L’Équipe maintains all of its information.
How have you experienced these last few special days?
It was very hectic! My phone hasn’t stopped ringing. You have written beautiful stories. I can’t deny the fact that there is interest in me and I find that flattering. My agent, Alex Hayes, told me about it. There are also several clubs interested and not just Sunderland. But for now, I’m sitting in front of you and I’m still the coach of Stade de Reims.
“I’m willing to be stupid, but not to that extent! »
Were you in London on Monday to meet the leaders of Sunderland?
I went to London to see my girlfriend, who is English and lives there. So I am a loyal Eurostar customer (laughs)! When I found my players at training on Tuesday, I asked them if they had seen this story, they all said yes. And I had to explain to them for the first time that I had been in a relationship for a few months with someone who lives in London. Everyone had a good laugh.
Can you say that you will finish the season well as SDR coach?
Unless the club fires me (smile)! I want to concentrate on Saturday’s match at Lens (16th day of L1, 9 p.m.) then next Wednesday’s match against Le Havre (9 p.m.). I expected this kind of story. I knew that at some point, people would try to damage my image and make me look like a mercenary. (Ironic) I could also send my CV to Manchester United (where Erik Ten Hag is threatened)… I’m willing to be stupid, but not to that extent!
“I never hid the fact that I was ambitious”
I find it rather flattering and even cool (to interest clubs), because at least people are talking about me and that means I’m not doing things too badly. It’s part of your job to sell stories well and I respect that enormously, but if I really wanted to leave, I would have left sooner. I never hid the fact that I was ambitious and wanted to go to England one day. I remain open. But it is not my priority at the moment and I remain the SDR coach.
Do you understand that SDR supporters may be worried and remember on this occasion your early departure from the SDR as deputy to Oscar Garcia, in October 2021 (to join Luka Elsner at Standard de Liège, before returning in the summer 2022)?
I am very happy with everything the supporters have given me and everything they do for the team. They understood where we wanted to go and what we wanted to do with this club. A lot of people have compared this story to when I left the first year. But if they knew the conditions… I’m not that type and I always stay very straight in what I do. I can never thank the supporters enough for everything we have managed to do with the SDR in a little over a year. I’m very proud of them and I hope we can sing together next Wednesday (after a success against Le Havre)!
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