If the hope of overthrowing Leicester existed throughout the city, Thursday, March 17 in the round of 16 second leg of the Europa League Conference, it is above all thanks to the offensive strike force of Stade Rennais. This season, the Reds and Blacks have impressed both with their number of goals and the quality of the game on offer. But against the Foxes, it was not enough to join the first quarter-finals of a European Cup in the history of the club, eliminated despite the victory (2-1).
57 goals in Ligue 1, 76 goals in all competitions or an average of 2.05 goals per match: the Rennes attack can score at any time. She did it in Lyon (4-2), Sunday, for a seventh game this season where the SRFC planted four goals minimum. “I don’t think we’ve ever seen a season like this, with play and so many goals”savors Fabrice, 47 years of life as a Rennes supporter.
The collective game advocated by Bruno Génésio even goes beyond borders. Leicester was obviously warned of Breton qualities before this double confrontation in the round of 16 of C4. “Rennes is a fantastic team with very good, well-coached players.Foxes coach Brendan Rodgers sincerely admired in a press conference after the SRFC victory. You have a great team, I hope you will go to the Champions League.“A little earlier in the week, it is even the very famous English newspaper The Guardian who praised the polished game of the Rouge et Noir, “the most exciting attack in Ligue 1, if not in Europe”.
“A few years ago, when we played mid-table, it was less interesting to watch”, concedes Ronan, 22, supporter of the club. Except that since 2018 and the Julien Stéphan era (2018-2021), the SRFC has changed in size with a victory in the Coupe de France in 2019.
“Génésio added his offensive touch, to always go forward”, adds Robin, also 22 years old. Since the start of the season, Bruno Génésio has indeed been able to impose his mark, without modifying everything from floor to ceiling. “He was smart because he didn’t revolutionize everything when he arrived, he built continuity in terms of the style of playanalyzes Gaël Danic, consultant on all Stade Rennais matches for France Bleu Armorique.
“He brought that mindset of refusing defeat.”
Gaël Danic, France Bleu Armorique consultantat franceinfo: sport
Unlike the last games under Julien Stéphan, ball possession is rarely sterile. The game proposed by Bruno Génésio is more direct, more vertical. Faced with Leicester, its defenders did not hesitate at times to lie down on its attackers to take advantage of the play in delivery from Gaëtan Laborde or sometimes even from Martin Terrier, however less robust. “I think there is a day-to-day job that is impressivecontinues Gaël Danic. Rennes has the possibility of scoring from the right, from the left, from crosses, from set pieces. They have a very large panel.” The ball very often switches from one side to the other thanks to the technique of his circles (Martin, Santamaria and Majer), acclaimed each time by the public.
The principles of the former Lyon coach were obviously pushed to excess at Roazhon Park. As much carried by what the situation imposed as by what the public in fusion demanded. The Rennais were always present in number in the opposing area to receive the crosses of his wingers or his side. The latter, Adrien Truffert on the left and Hamari Traoré on the right, were very stirring. As usual, they were placed inside the game very often, to free up the wing for the wingers, as Pep Guardiola, for example, asks Manchester City. His instructions sometimes gave rise to surprising situations when Hamari Traoré was practically positioned in number 10 in the first period.
Rennes can also count on a pair of valuable attackers. Gaëtan Laborde and Martin Terrier have scored 16 and 14 goals respectively in all competitions this season with the Rennes jersey. Against Leicester, they had less of an opportunity to find each other and didn’t score but their association is obviously starting to be targeted.
Terrier, scorer in Lyon on Sunday (4-2), was on the other hand decisive passer on the opening of the score of Benjamin Bourigeaud. Behind them, in number 10, Lovro Majer plays the metronomes. With his silky left foot, he distills his balls with simplicity and always one step ahead. Faced with a tight defense of the Foxes, the Croatian lost very few balls despite the opposing pressure.
But as in the first leg, Rennes lacked a bit of realism to score this third goal synonymous with extra time. This is not the first time, paradoxically, for the second Ligue 1 attack. “We lacked maturity (…) And we still lacked perhaps a little efficiency because we had the opportunities”, regretted after the meeting Bruno Génésio. The delivery of Serhou Guirassy pushed back by Kasper Schmeichel (85th) or the volley of Baptiste Santamaria passed near the post (90 + 1st) had to trot in his head.
To find its European evenings where everything is set ablaze with each touch of the ball – obviously forward – Stade Rennais will have to continue to rely on its prolific attack. The path will now only pass through the championship.