Teddy Teuma unhappy with Stade Reims’ lack of ambition but vows to keep professional approach

Teddy Teuma has expressed his disappointment at his Stade Reims’ lack of ambition in Ligue 1 this season but has vowed to remain professional and try and give his all for the club despite his lack of playing time with the French Ligue 1 side.

The Malta international midfielder has struggled for first-team football with Reims over the past few months after expressing his frustration at the club’s lack of ambition.

Teuma, who had been appointed as Stade Reims’ captain at the start of the season, was a regular member in the Ligue 1 side in the first part of the campaign but as the months passed the amount of minutes in the first team decreased considerably.

So far he has made 17 appearances for the club who are currently battling against relegation as amassed 23 points from 26 matches and are just two points ahead of Le Havre, who occupy the relegation play-off spot and three clear of second-from-bottom Saint Etienne.

Speculation has been rife in the past few weeks that Teuma had fell out of favour with club coach Samba Diawara, but speaking to the Times of Malta the 31-year-old rubbished those claims.

“It’s not true that I have any problems with coach Samba Diawara,” Teuma told the Times of Malta.

“It’s true that I am going through a very difficult season at Stade Reims but my relationship with the coach has been very good.

“The main problem for me is that I am frustrated by the club’s lack of ambition this season. I believe that the club should have invested more in the team to try and battle for a top placing in the Ligue 1.

“However, they are just happy to keep their place in the Ligue 1 and that is not good enough for me. I am a very competitive person who always goes out to help the team win and reach higher objectives but unfortunately, the club is not sharing this ambition.”

Teuma said that despite this difference in opinion with the club he is determined to remain professional and continue to give his all for the club.

“I will continue to adopt a professional approach and try and give everything for the club from now till the end of the season,” said Teuma, who has two more years on his contract at Stade Reims.

“Then at the end of the season, I will sit down with the club and see what will happen. But at the moment my priority remains to help Stade Reims.”

Despite the tough season in Ligue 1, Stade Reims can still somewhat save their season as they have reached the semi-finals of the French Cup when they face Cannes on April 2.