In the summer, Fabian Rieder left the Bernese Young Boys for Stade Rennes in Ligue 1. The U21 national team player has settled in there and recently attracted attention with a free kick goal. In the SRF interview, the midfielder talks about this very goal, his life in France and the lack of playing time.
SRF Sport: Fabian Rieder, how did you settle in in France?
Fabian Rieder: Actually very good. The city is not the biggest, but small and hearty. Two and a half weeks after my arrival I already had an apartment. The people in the city are friendly and accommodating. This is also reflected in the club – it is almost family-like, but with great ambitions.
Is there anything you miss from Bern?
I miss everything a bit, it’s a completely different life. It’s a different mentality, a new language. So it was a complete change. And of course I miss my family and my closest friends. But I really feel very comfortable, even if it will never be the same as at YB.
What are the biggest differences between Stade Rennes and YB?
There are differences in every area. After my arrival I was a bit surprised. The quality, intensity, speed and also in the physical area everything is a league higher. I had to acclimatize first. I can now improve week after week, Stade Rennes is really a great club. Even if we don’t have the best results at the moment.
Things aren’t going well in the league, but they are in the Europa League. Where does this discrepancy come from?
We started the Europa League with a 3-0 win. As a result, we had a little less pressure and were a little more relaxed. If you lose a game in the league, you are under pressure again in the next game. Then you might be a little more stressed in your head. Often it’s a mental thing, because we actually have it in our feet. I think that’s a shame because we perform well but don’t reward ourselves.
I don’t despair even when I’m not playing.
How satisfied are you with your own performance?
I am generally satisfied with my performance. Of course I would have liked more playing time, but that’s “part of the business”. There is also a lot of competition in my position: Nemanja Matic, Enzo Le Fée, Baptiste Santamaria and Captain Benjamin Bourigeaud. They demand everything from me in every training session. I knew it would be difficult. But Rennes didn’t bring me in for a short-term project, but for a long-term project. I don’t despair even if I don’t play, even if my requirements would be different.
Are the few minutes of play unexpected for you?
I didn’t expect to play every game from the beginning. Of course I would have liked more playing time. But the sports director continually shows me his enormous trust in me. You shouldn’t forget that this is my first move abroad. That’s why I give myself the time and don’t stress myself out.
In the Europa League they scored a wonderful free kick goal against Maccabi Haifa. Take us back to this moment.
That’s when I realized that I was really trusted. I came in and was allowed to kick every standard. That’s why I took the ball with a lot of confidence. Even as a young Swiss man of 21, you shouldn’t underestimate yourself. The fact that I hit the ball like that also shows my mental strength. I’m overjoyed that it worked out so well.