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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Will Still rubbishes Sunderland reports</li><li>Reims boss linked with Championship club</li><li>Still says his reputation has been tarnished</li></ul>

'It certainly tarnished my image!' - Ligue 1 sensation Will Still hits out at 'made up' links with Sunderland

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Still was linked with the vacant manager position at Championship side Sunderland, a position now filled by former Queens Park Rangers boss Michael Beale. The <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/team/reims/3c3jcs7vc1t6vz5lev162jyv7" target="_blank">Reims</a> coach has now labelled those reports as untrue and damaging to his reputation.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Still told <a href="https://m.gva.be/cnt/dmf20231222_93565521?&amp;articlehash=gH33PL9pIqiNFHvz9xNV06s7pF0hjovvj%2FunN08EBgP9n4qhkmlDnFjoj42cM7tZNyBQFQOvavBW2uQgaYUeWLzMAda29y8yd3E8CwGMwtQtRHu%2FAugSx9M%2BvURsnupuu2Snvv1WC79Hn79oiARqUXUNnULRyHtiG9ODbqhn8kDa4%2FmUocXrpqDlr2Rsj1MQtmb%2FaEYb%2FjesLC%2BaC3tqf1VoHGfrklZzfOzZGr5x76LWdQUSzztJglq%2BMlkwUej1sdjJGYQQA%2BCGqJUejnOd0fMayz9oBA4xmhVpMdr6cGzvLYci6uHRdhAHySz9v%2B6yvEC%2FSOoomIoqZ5dAQk3Buw%3D%3D" target="_blank">Gazete van Antwerpen</a>: "I don’t know which French-language newspaper made up that story, but it certainly tarnished my image."Now I know journalists can make or break you. The article was also quickly adopted in England. Suddenly I was in all the tabloids. Everyone thought I had offered myself to Sunderland. [That] I wasn’t being honest, so to speak. And not to be trusted. But I would never offer myself to another club."I’m not wired like that. I have too much respect for the people I work with for that. It’s a shame the story was blown up so much."

WHAT WILL STILL SAID

Still has a release clause in his Reims contract, something he says he wasn't aware of."I didn’t even know that clause [allowing him to leave for €5m] was in my contract until last week. Perhaps that is why Sunderland put some pressure on certain media. Was it an attempt to get me out of here for free? I don’t know."I’m not interested in it either. But it does frustrate me. Because now it seems like I’ve become arrogant. Or started floating [in the clouds]. But that is absolutely not the case. I am still the same Will as I was at Lierse or Beerschot."

WHAT DID STILL SAY ABOUT HIS CONTRACT?

Still made headlines when - at age 30 - he was appointed Reims boss in late 2022, becoming the youngest manager in Europe's top five leagues. His story went viral when it emerged that Reims were getting fined €25,000 every time he managed the team because he didn't have a UEFA Pro license. After leading Reims to a comfortable mid-table finish last season, Still's side are currently eighth in <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/ligue-1/dm5ka0os1e3dxcp3vh05kmp33" target="_blank">Ligue</a> 1.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Following the Christmas break, Still will take his side to fourth division Dinan-Lehon in the round of 64 of the Coupe de France.

WHAT NEXT FOR STILL AND REIMS?

'It certainly tarnished my image!' - Ligue 1 sensation Will Still hits out at 'made up' links with Sunderland | Goal.com

Reims manager Will Still has accused journalists linking him with Sunderland of tarnishing his image.

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