It almost seems like it was yesterday. And yet, it’s been more than two and a half years since Benjamin André lifted the French Cup in the skies of Saint-Denis, the third won by Stade Rennais in 120 years of history, after the heroic victory of the Rouge et Noir against Paris on April 27, 2019. At the dawn of a new edition, Rennes hopes to create other beautiful memories. And it starts with the reception of Lorient this Saturday at Roazhon Park in the 32nd final.
As soon as we arrive at the club, we see a lot of photos with the Coupe de France! – Loïc Badé
At Stade Rennais, the Coupe de France is in the DNA, it is a heritage that we pass on, as Loïc Badé, who arrived from Lens this summer, attests: “We are talking about it, because it is the last trophy won by Stade Rennais. When we arrive at the club, we see a lot of photos with the cup. Those who were there, the oldest, whether it was Benjamin Bourigeaud or Hamari Traoré, they have a lot of memories and they have already shared them with the new ones like me who arrive at the club.”
In the current pro workforce, Benjamin Bourigeaud and Hamari Traoré are, with Jérémy Gélin (injured) and James Léa-Siliki (loaned to Middlsborough) the last members of the 2019 adventure still at the club. The two executives of the team play the transmission game. Bruno Genesio can rely on their experience and their experiences when passing on his message: “It should be approached as a competition that generates a lot of emotions. It’s a very important competition for us, different in approach to a championship game. Already because there is no catching up. This is where you go and you’re in the draw for the next round, or it’s over for the year. It’s a different competition, a different issue, different emotions, which we will have to manage well to qualify.“For the Rennes coach, 2019 represents a more traumatic memory, since the semi-final lost to Stade Rennais in 2019 cost him his place as head coach in Lyon.
The Coupe de France is also a Proust madeleine for shareholders. In the documentary which traces the 120 years of the club “At the Red Iron“, François-Henri Pinault remembers the semi-final of 1971, won on penalties against OM, a match that the CEO of the Kering group had experienced at the Stade de la route de Lorient. in this documentary by his dream of seeing his club again winning the Old Lady again in the years to come.
For Lorient, the hope of a recovery
Opposite, Lorient, who also experienced his last great thrill in the Coupe de France, with the final victory in 2002, will seek to prevent the Rennais from dreaming again. But the Hakes are at their worst: they have just chained seven consecutive defeats in Ligue 1, and have not won since the end of September, an eternity. Christophe Pélissier will be able to count on the return of Enzo Le Fée for this match. In the Coupe de France, the two teams have played each other six times, for three victories on both sides. Lorient has not beaten Rennes in all competitions for five years.
Few changes in sight for Bruno Genesio
For this match Bruno Genesio confided that he did not want to make too many changes, so as not to lose pace with his holders who should go to play in Monaco on Wednesday ten days after their last match played. The Rennes coach simply confided that Romain Salin would keep the Rennes goals. Flavien Tait will be back in the group. Loïc Badé should start in central defense.