• Club president Marc Keller confirms that Gary O’Neil will stay in his role as manager.
• Strasbourg finished eighth in Ligue 1 and will not compete in European football next season.
• The English boss joined the club in January after Liam Rosenior left for Chelsea.
• The team lost in the semi-finals of both the Coupe de France and the UEFA Conference League.
• Reports about a possible replacement have now been dismissed by the club’s leadership.

RC Strasbourg Alsace have announced that Gary O’Neil will continue as their manager. Club president Marc Keller gave this confirmation to DNA Sports.

O’Neil joined the French side in January this year. He replaced Liam Rosenior, who moved to Chelsea. The team has struggled to find form since then. They finished eighth in the Ligue 1 table. This result means they miss out on all European competitions next season.

The club also failed to win any silverware. They lost in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France. They also exited the UEFA Conference League at the same stage. Earlier this month, some reports claimed the club wanted to replace O’Neil. Journalist Mohamed Toubache-Ter stated that Strasbourg were interested in manager Luis Felipe. However, Keller has now ended this speculation.

“We are very happy with Gary’s work,” Keller said. “He is very happy at Le Racing. He is committed, motivated, and has already started preparing the squad for next season. We must raise our standards because other teams in the top eight are moving forward quickly.”

These comments mean O’Neil will keep his job. He will now focus on rebuilding the squad for the upcoming campaign.

• RC Strasbourg Alsace are looking at hiring former Flamengo head coach Filipe Luis.
• Current manager Gary O’Neil could lose his job at the Stade de la Meinau.
• Liam Rosenior’s move to Chelsea in January brought poor results for all parties involved.
• Xabi Alonso will take over as Strasbourg boss for the upcoming season.
• French newspaper L’Équipe previously claimed O’Neil would remain in his post.

Liam Rosenior joined Chelsea in January. The switch turned out badly for everyone. The Blues fell down the Premier League table. Strasbourg finished outside the European places. By the end of the campaign, Rosenior had also lost his job.

Xabi Alonso will become the new Strasbourg head coach next term. He replaces Rosenior. However, Gary O’Neil, the man who stepped in when Rosenior left, might not stay long.

Journalist Mohamed Toubache-Ter reports that O’Neil could face the sack. This news comes despite recent claims from L’Équipe that the Englishman would keep his role. The French outlet stated that O’Neil would continue, even though the team ended the season in eighth place in Ligue 1. They also lost in the semi-finals of both the Coupe de France and the UEFA Europa Conference League. The same report noted that O’Neil had already started talks about new signings for next season.

But Toubache-Ter now claims that Strasbourg may cut ties with the former Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers manager. The club has set its sights on Filipe Luis instead. The Brazilian recently left Flamengo and could take charge at the Meinau.

• Strasbourg face Brest in a Ligue 1 clash on Wednesday night
• Gary O’Neil plans to pick his best players despite the season having no goals left
• Four key players will miss the match through injury or other issues
• The team has no chance of European football next year after cup exits
• Recent weeks saw reserve players get chances in league matches

Strasbourg’s season has ended early. The French side hoped to win a cup and reach Europe. But they lost in the French Cup semi-finals. They also failed in the UEFA Conference League last week. A draw with Angers confirmed they cannot catch Monaco in the table.

Only two games remain now. Pride is the only thing left to fight for. Manager Gary O’Neil will still pick a strong team against Stade Brestois on Wednesday. This is a change from recent matches. In those games, he gave chances to backup players in the league.

Four players will not travel. Aaron Anselmino, Emanuel Emegha, David Datro Fofana and Joaquín Panichelli are all out.

The predicted team sees Mike Penders start in goal. Ben Chilwell, Ismael Doukouré, Andrew Omobamidele and Guéla Doué will play in defence. Mathis Amougou and Samir El Mourabet should control midfield. Julio Enciso will lead the attack. He will get support from Martial Godo, Sébastien Nanasi and Diego Moreira.

• Strasbourg’s European hopes end after a 1-1 draw with SCO Angers.
• Gary O’Neil criticises the club’s January recruitment and his players’ attitude.
• The French side crashed out of both the Coupe de France and the Conference League this month.
• O’Neil reveals he wants two new centre-forwards ahead of next season.

RC Strasbourg Alsace’s season has collapsed. Manager Gary O’Neil gambled on cup competitions to secure European football. The plan has failed completely.

Le Racing lost to OGC Nice in the Coupe de France semi-finals. Days later, Spanish side Rayo Vallecano knocked them out of the UEFA Europa Conference League. Rayo will now face Crystal Palace in the final.

A tiny hope remained for Strasbourg. They could still catch AS Monaco in seventh place. This would bring Conference League qualification if RC Lens beat Nice in the cup final. However, they needed to defeat SCO Angers on Sunday. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. Now, European football is mathematically impossible.

O’Neil did not hide his anger after the game. He attacked his players’ performance. He also slammed the club’s work during the January transfer window.

“I am angry. I hope the players feel the same,” said the former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss. “We have two games left. They must show me they deserve to stay. But we cannot continue like this. They disappointed me more than on Thursday.”

He warned his squad about the harsh realities of professional football. “The world of football is full of sharks. I told them this was a final. They did not play like it,” he added.

O’Neil then turned his attention to summer recruitment. He revealed urgent meetings have already started. “We must work hard this summer. I need two centre-forwards. The owners will give me resources. But we must improve the culture, quality, and depth.”

He admitted past mistakes clearly. “We messed up in January. We weakened the squad instead of strengthening it,” he concluded.

• Gary O’Neil criticises his players after a 1-1 draw with Angers SCO extends their winless run to four games.
• Strasbourg exit the Europa Conference League and fail to close the gap on European qualification spots.
• The manager blames the club’s reliance on youth, citing a lack of experienced leaders in the dressing room.
• Captain Emanuel Emegha faces scrutiny for poor leadership and controversial comments about the club.
• Fears grow over a summer exodus of young stars including Chelsea loanees and other key prospects.

Gary O’Neil could not hide his fury. The RC Strasbourg Alsace boss watched his side labour to a 1-1 stalemate against Angers SCO on Sunday evening. This result marked four consecutive matches without a victory.

“This moment sums up our entire campaign,” O’Neil stated. “We possess far greater quality. I feel furious. The players should share this anger. Only two fixtures remain. They must demonstrate they merit a place here next term.”

The narrative feels painfully familiar for supporters. The BlueCo-owned club has watched another encouraging season unravel during the decisive final weeks. Last year, they lost their last two fixtures and fell out of the European places. They only secured a Europa Conference League spot because Paris Saint-Germain’s Coupe de France victory created an extra berth.

History repeats itself. In late April, OGC Nice eliminated them from the domestic cup. Then Rayo Vallecano knocked them out of Europe on Thursday. Against Angers, they squandered a chance to reduce the deficit to AS Monaco. Their hopes of continental football next season are now over.

“They disappointed me deeply,” O’Neil said of his charges. “This performance was poorer than Thursday’s display. Football operates like a shark tank. They must recognise this reality. I informed them that this match was a cup final. We simply did not approach it with the necessary intensity.”

The Englishman identifies one fundamental flaw. His squad lacks maturity. BlueCo’s business model focuses on scouting and developing Europe’s finest young talent. While this brings exciting prospects to the club, it leaves the team without seasoned professionals to provide guidance.

Only defender Ben Chilwell and reserve goalkeeper Karl-Johan Johnsson offer genuine experience. The remainder of the dressing room consists of youthful players. This situation has forced leadership responsibilities onto individuals ill-equipped for such demands.

Emanuel Emegha’s tenure as club captain illustrates this issue perfectly. The striker appears uncomfortable acting as the team’s voice and representative. He has spent much of the campaign injured or alienating fans. He has signed a pre-contract agreement with Chelsea. He also caused controversy by admitting to Dutch journalists that he previously believed Strasbourg was located in Germany rather than France.

Serious questions now surround the club’s immediate future. Without European competition, retaining their brightest young assets becomes extremely difficult. Major clubs are monitoring Valentén Barco, Samir El Mourabet, Martial Godo, Diego Moreira, Guela Doué, and Joaquin Panichelli. The Chelsea loanees and Emegha will certainly depart.

O’Neil’s concerns extend beyond player retention. “We must also strengthen our club culture,” he insisted on Sunday. Yet building a stable identity proves challenging when the organisation functions primarily as a showcase for bigger teams. How does one construct something permanent when the project thrives on transience? Can players commit fully throughout a season knowing they will likely transfer elsewhere within months?

• Rayo Vallecano boss Inigo Perez demands his squad stop dreaming about European glory and face the reality of their Conference League semi-final against Strasbourg
• The Madrid side will be without defenders Luiz Felipe and Alvaro Garcia for the first leg, though goalkeeper Augusto Batalla returns to the starting eleven
• Perez highlights the club’s unique social identity and firmly rejects any suggestion of swapping relegation survival for a European trophy

Rayo Vallecano manager Inigo Perez has instructed his players to stop dreaming about the UEFA Conference League. He insists their semi-final clash with Strasbourg demands complete focus on reality, not fantasy.

The Spanish coach admits Thursday’s first leg at Vallecas stands among the biggest fixtures in the club’s history. Despite this, he trusts his squad possesses the mental strength to meet the challenge head-on.

Team news brings mixed fortunes for the hosts. Central defender Luiz Felipe and winger Alvaro Garcia will both miss the match through injury. However, goalkeeper Augusto Batalla has recovered from his fitness issues and will start between the posts. Perez refused to discuss the seven-match ban handed to midfielder Isi Palazon.

Speaking ahead of the fixture, the manager recalled his pre-match comments before the quarter-final victory over AEK Athens. On that occasion, he had joked about securing a 3-0 win. When asked for a similar prediction this time, he remained cautious.

“I cannot guess the score,” he laughed. “We must use our home advantage in the first leg. When opponents allow you to strike first, you must take that chance. We suffered against Athens in the previous round, but our mentality must remain identical tomorrow.”

He added that both teams enter the tie with valuable experience from earlier rounds. Strasbourg endured difficulties against Mainz, while Rayo overcame their own challenges.

Many squad members face their first European semi-final, yet Perez dismisses concerns about nerves. “I feel no nerves,” he stated. “We train together daily, so there is no reason for anxiety. Perhaps a little fear exists, but that is positive energy. Nerves appear when you are unprepared. We feel urgent for the match to begin. Vallecas is our home.”

Observers have labelled this encounter as potentially the most significant in the club’s entire history. Perez accepts the importance but avoids hyperbole. “Labels depend on perspective,” he explained. “For me, this might be the biggest game, yet others remember promotion battles differently. Tomorrow will write history regardless. My message stays consistent. Football requires mental expression. Even a convincing home win means nothing, as the tie finishes in France. The psychological battle represents ninety-nine percent of success.”

The manager recently watched a club video about the match. It reinforced his message about creating memories. “Whatever happens tomorrow stays in people’s hearts forever,” he said. “Dreaming belongs to the future. Now we must play, live, and exist in the present. Stop dreaming because this is real. That mindset offers the best preparation.”

Rayo Vallecano represents a unique case among Europe’s final four clubs. Their working-class Madrid neighbourhood and distinct social identity set them apart from wealthier opponents.

“We are very different,” Perez noted. “You sense it in our neighbourhood. There is a political dimension, though I avoid political speeches. Our social character distinguishes us from others. We want supporters’ passion reflected on the pitch. Since arriving here, the tunnel walk at Vallecas produces emotions I have never experienced elsewhere.”

Opponents Strasbourg arrive as surprise package of the tournament. Under English coach Gary O’Neil, the French side boasts numerous young talents thanks to BlueCo ownership, the same group that controls Chelsea.

“We have studied them thoroughly,” Perez revealed. “They field a young side with abundant talent. Their attacking approach demonstrates this quality. We must maintain our identity to secure victory.”

The manager believes semi-finals require less tactical intervention from coaches. “These matches play themselves,” he argued. “Earlier rounds demand more coaching input. This will be a difficult contest between two teams desperate to reach the final. They have youth, we have experience. A final would complete our historic journey perfectly.”

Local supporters have debated whether European glory justifies relegation from La Liga. Perez rejects this notion entirely.

“I do not consider that trade,” he insisted. “I would prefer losing a final over suffering relegation. Relegation causes pain that lingers for years. I understand our fans’ feelings. If I supported the club, like Sergio Camello suggests, I would back the team completely, especially with a Conference trophy possibly arriving.”

The first leg kicks off on Thursday evening at 21:00 local time in Vallecas. The return match takes place next week at the Stade de la Meinau at the same time.