Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Montpellier, Rennes manager Bruno Génésio notably came to the defence of Metz’s Frédéric Antonetti, who was this week hit with a ten-match ban for an altercation with Lille’s Sylvain Armand.

His words transcribed in L’Équipe, the former Lyon coach in particular agreed with Antonetti’s post-match comments regarding the presence of various club staff in and around the touchline, albeit distancing himself from the fight itself.

“He said it himself. He is honest enough to recognise that in substance he is right – and I think that he is right in substance – and that in the way he went about it he was wrong. Then you have a sanction but it seems to me that in France there are too many people in the corridors before, during and after games. Having spoken to people working in England, it doesn’t work like that at all, and maybe that limits the problems that might have occurred during the game.”

“[…] We have a duty to be exemplary, he knows it, he said it, but sometimes you can get carried away with the emotions, by what we could consider to be an injustice, and while angry behave inappropriately. But I really liked his post-match reaction, he recognised it and I agree with what he said. In substance, he is right, but he could have acted differently.”