Brahimi urges leaders Rennes not to lose focus

Rennes starlet Yacine Brahimi says his team must maintain their momentum after reaching the top of the French first division for the first time in 40 years, as they prepare for Sunday’s trip to struggling Lens.

Frederic Antonetti’s side scaled the Ligue 1 summit following a 3-1 win over Toulouse in their last outing and can preserve their lead by beating a Lens team second from bottom after just one win from their first eight matches.

Brahimi, the latest exciting talent to graduate from Rennes’ award-winning academy, has enjoyed a fine start to the season but vows that he and his team-mates will not be found wanting when the going gets tough.

“It’s a great source of pride to be sitting top today, even if we know that it won’t be easy to stay here and we’ve still got a lot of room for improvement,” the 20-year-old attacking midfielder told the league’s official website.

“But the good start means that the whole team, the squad and the club are super motivated to stay where we are and have a great season.

“That all starts with our next few games, where the aim is to keep playing well and win if we can; but I promise you, we are well aware of how hard it’s going to be.”

Nigerian international centre-back Onyekachi Apam could make his Rennes debut after missing the start of the season with a knee injury, but Colombian top scorer Victor Hugo Montano (hamstring) will not be back until November.

As Rennes fight to hold onto top spot, Lyon are striving to haul themselves away from the relegation zone.

A miserable start to the season has seen the seven-time champions slip to four defeats in eight matches and they are already 10 points behind Rennes ahead of Sunday’s visit of third-placed Lille.

Coach Claude Puel has been given until October 24 by president Jean-Michel Aulas to turn the club’s fortunes around, but skipper Cris says the players have to assume responsibility as well.

“We are going through a tough time, but we can’t afford to give up,” the Brazilian told L’Equipe sports daily earlier this week.

“The players are the ones who are supposed to do the job on the pitch, so they play the leading role. The coach names the team, but it is up to us to play.”

Back-to-back wins against Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Champions League and Nancy in the league have slightly eased the pressure on Puel and he vowed not to adapt his style in an interview with L’Equipe published on Thursday.

“I’ve seen myself described (in the media) as austere and you never see articles about me accompanied by a picture in which I’m smiling,” Puel said.

“I don’t recognise myself. It’s up to me to carry out my work in a certain way. But I won’t change my personality.”

Jeremy Toulalan (foot) is a doubt for the game with Lille, but Puel will hope Yoann Gourcuff carries his international form into the match after he scored twice for France in their Euro 2012 qualifiers against Romania and Luxembourg.

Saint-Etienne, knocked off top spot by Rennes prior to the international break, visit Nice on Sunday.

Fixtures

Sunday (1500GMT unless otherwise stated):

Lens v Rennes, Lorient v Valenciennes, Nice v Saint-Etienne, Lyon v Lille (1900GMT)