Reims’ Will Still after loss to Marseille: “We can be proud of the story we’ve written.”

Reims’ Anglo-Belgian coach Will Still cut a disappointed figure after his side lost their first Ligue 1 game since he took charge of the Champagne side in October. Reims fell at home against second-placed Marseille after a thrilling game. Chilean international striker Alexis Sánchez turned the game on its head after Arsenal loanee Falorin Balogun opened the scoring for the hosts. It meant the end of an incredible 19-game unbeaten run for Reims, including 17 in Still’s tenure. “We can be proud of the story we have written up until now. Not a lot of teams will go unbeaten for 19 games in a row”, assessed the 30-year-old manager while speaking to Amazon Prime Video Sport.

Still lamented his side’s lack of efficiency and focus at times against Les Phocéens on Sunday night, but nevertheless praised them. “We managed to cause issues to a very good Marseille side in a very intense game. I can only be proud of that.” The Reims boss has challenged his players to write another beautiful story for the last ten games of the Ligue 1 season. Reims sit ninth in the standings and have a 7-point deficit on fifth place, the last European qualifying spot for next season.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval