Will Still simulated poor refereeing performance to help Reims players prepare for PSG tie

In an exclusive interview with Winamax, Stade de Reims manager Will Still has said that he is simulating a poor refereeing display in order to help his players prepare for this weekend’s Ligue 1 encounter against Paris Saint-Germain. 

Reims go into Round 12 in fourth place in Ligue 1. Still’s side have an impressive record of six wins, two draws and three losses, and are undefeated since 7th October (3-1 against AS Monaco). However, the Reims manager is expecting a difficult encounter at the Parc des Princes. Their opponents, PSG, are unbeaten in Ligue 1 since a 3-2 loss against OGC Nice on 15th September, and as well as a star-studded squad, Still also expects the atmosphere within the stadium to play a part in the result. 

As a result, Still has tried to replicate those difficult conditions in training this week, notably mimicking a poor refereeing performance. “Before PSG, I took a training session where we were bad referees on purpose because when you go to the Parc, the match is difficult because of the opponent and you know that because of the supporters, because of the atmosphere, certain decisions won’t go your way,”  Still told Winamax. 

He added, “In the session, I created the atmosphere that I wanted to create by annoying the players to the extent that they got p**sed off with the referees, and the referees in the session were us. I told them that I knew we were rubbish as referees and we were doing it on purpose, but if you think the environment will be different on Sunday at the Parc des Princes, you won’t be happy.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle