Reims suffered a late-season collapse to leave themselves well out of reach of the promotion spots. Having been one of the sides tipped to challenge for the title this season, Michel Der Zakarian’s men fell well short, dropping nine points off the leading pack of six teams. Their problems all season was an inability to find regular offensive production in their ranks. By the end of the campaign, top scorer Pablo Chavarria had a mere seven goals, while Grejohn Kyei, who was erratic in attack, managed six. Early on, this did not prove to be a great problem. Reims were winning matches regularly at home, earning maximum points at virtually every turn when they played at Stade Auguste Delaune, but on the road they were a good deal weaker. It was often defenders who would lift them to victory at home, with Julian Jeanvier contributing three times early in the season as Reims thrived from set pieces. However, they struggled in this regard thereafter and after the winter break suffered a complete collapse. They would go from invincible at home to impossible, winning only one match in front of their home supporters in the second half of the campaign. Their away form, meanwhile, remaining mediocre. Nevertheless, they were still in contention to go up in March, lying second before a meeting with Lens at home. A 2-0 reverse in that encounter saw them really hit a tailspin and they would win only one of their last 10 matches thereafter. An injury to striker Gaetan Charbonnier, who was never a great favourite of the coach, proved a great issue as he was a valuable link player and won many fouls from which the team could build around. He may not have been prolific, but he was apparently undervalued by his coach. There is talk of a rethink over the summer months, with Der Zakarian linked with a move elsewhere. It may be that they need a fresh approach – they certainly need more firepower.
