I could gossip, but since I don’t like it I’ll tell you what I really think: it’s a special match for me. – Bruno Genesio
Present in front of the press this Saturday, ahead of the trip from Stade Rennais to Lyon, this Sunday at 5:05 p.m., Bruno Genesio did not hide the emotion that the reunion with his club represented for him, him the Lyonnais by birth: “I started playing in Lyon at five and a half years old. I was a professional there, I had the chance to coach there for three and a half seasons, with a lot of joy and good memories. So obviously it’s a special match, because of the sense of history I have with this club, with this city, since I was born there. We cannot erase these thirty years of life in Lyon, of life with Olympique Lyonnais. It’s a special moment for me to find myself in the visitor’s locker room, I’ll try not to take the wrong side (laughs).“
Coming out of a defeat in Leicester, and a few days before the return match against the English, Bruno Genesio’s Rennais will play another match at European level against Lyon, which is five points behind in the standings, but which remains on two victories. consecutive, including a prestigious Wednesday in the Europa League in Porto (0-1).
Finding Lyon with Rennes, and facing Peter Bosz: far from being anecdotal for Bruno Genesio
Between 2015 and 2019, Bruno Genesio had a sometimes stormy relationship with part of the Lyon public. Asked about the reception that could be reserved for him, the Rennes coach assures that he does not hold any grudges: “It’s been almost three seasons since I’ve coached Lyon, and I would like us to stop with all these clichés. Of course there were criticisms, things that happened… But we can see that it’s inherent to our job and that’s the case in many clubs. Once again, I also had very good times, including with the supporters from elsewhere, especially during my first season, also with the people of the club, the staff and the management. Honestly it will be a good time for me tomorrow to find these people.“
And football being teasing, Bruno Genesio will find the Parc OL in a special setting: “I have often said it, I have two great disappointments with Lyon, these are the two semi-finals: against Ajax (during the Europa League in 2017, editor’s note) and against Rennes (in the Coupe de France in 2019 , Editor’s note). It’s a sign of fate that I’m returning for my first game in Lyon since my departure as coach of Stade Rennais, against the coach (Peter Bosz, editor’s note) who eliminated us with Ajax.“
For this match, Bruno Genesio will be able to count on the same players as against Leicester. The Rennais will have a hard time facing a revengeful Lyonnais after the heavy defeat suffered in the first leg (4-1) at Roazhon Park.