It was with a mixed feeling that Stade Rennais concluded its evening, Thursday, November 25. A few minutes after the cruel, but logical, equalization of Vitesse Arnhem by Lois Openda (3-3, 90th), the Breton supporters rejoiced when they learned of Tottenham’s defeat at Mura (2-1). The latter directly qualifies the Red and Black for the knockout stages of the Europa League Conference, without going through tricky dams against the third in groups of the Europa League.
Frowning on his arrival on the platform of the press conference room, Bruno Genesio still wanted to underline the qualification of his team. “It is true that we must be satisfied to be qualified and to finish first, he slipped. I want to congratulate my players on all of this competition. Finishing first with one game from the end is very satisfying. You also have to know how to savor it. “
The feelings were very mixed at the end of the match in the Rennes locker room, which did not seem to have the head to the party. “Frustration at showing an unusual face”, says Genesio. “A bit of both”, replied Gaëtan Laborde when asked what feelings animated him. “FOrcly, we are happy to be qualified but we know that we did not play a great game. You have to know how to say it even when there are positive signals “, continued the ex-Montpelliérain, author of the first hat-trick at Stade Rennais since that of Ousmane Dembélé against Nantes, in 2016.
The scuttled end of the match was in everyone’s minds in Rennes. While leading 3-1, the Bretons conceded two goals in the last quarter of an hour of play to settle for a draw. What Bruno Genesio obviously did not like. “JI’m angry. I don’t even need to comment, criticized the former Lyon technician. It’s a booster shot of no consequence. “
It’s a warning to everyone. We have a lot of praise, compliments, maybe we lacked humility. “
Bruno Genesioin press conference
On Friday August 27, at the time of the draw for this C4, Rennes certainly did not think he would travel to Tottenham on December 9 for the honor. “It’s a great match, it’s the European Cup, there is no game to give up, assured Bruno Genesio. In a superb stadium as well. All the players will want to play even if there is no stake for us. ”
After this last meeting of the group stage, the Rennais will then be able to project themselves on the month of March, on the round of 16 (first leg on March 10, return on the 17th). And maybe more. “I talways said that we had ambition in this European Cup, asserted Gaëtan Laborde, the match ball of his first career treble as a trophy by his side. I came here to live a great adventure, the European Cup can be a great human adventure with the supporters and the club. We are on the right track. “
“It will be in March, a lot of things will happen by then, put Bruno Genesio into perspective. But when you get involved, it is with the ambition to go as far as possible. We still have the same ambition, we must not set limits. “
From now on, Rennes can concentrate on Ligue 1 and its trip to Lorient on Sunday (3 p.m.). He can especially wait to know his opponent in the round of 16 of the C4, the draw being scheduled for February 25, the day after the dams from which his opponent will come.