Europa League – Stade Rennais annoyed by its draw at Fenerbahçe: “We are fools”

Stade Rennais had however done the hardest part. Author of an ideal start to the match in the wake of an Amine Gouiri in all the right moves, the Rouge et Noir delighted with their well-oiled collective game to continue their good momentum for several weeks now. “We make the match we need. We had a perfect start to the match. We lead 3-0 away“, underlines Bourigeaud. But then, crash. Martin Terrier’s teammates sank.

After being punished for a not illogical weak time at the end of the first period (1-3), Stade Rennais sank in the last ten minutes by conceding two goals in a Turkish stadium in fusion. While Steve Mandanda’s injury exit on his return from the locker room certainly did not help, the Breton substitutes, who have been regularly effective this season, have notably failed to get in tune with the starters. “Leading 3-0 away, we have to close the shop. And there, we take three goals. We do not have the right, Bourigeaud still gets annoyed. We makes a perfect match, and then I don’t know what happens. We make too many passes, we try to dribble when we have to take zero risks.”.

Is it a question of youth when the atmosphere was boiling and the substitutes brought down the average age of the eleven (note: 19 years for Alemdar, 20 for Sulemana, 22 for Assignon, 17 for Doué and 20 for Kalimuendo)? “We had a very good first half, I don’t know if it’s youth (which made Rennes crack in the second half, editor’s note), I do not think so, swept Bruno Genesio. I just think that we still have to gain experience from these kinds of matches, which are decided on very small details. And, if tonight, we didn’t manage to win, it’s only because we lacked vigilance and sometimes humility.“.

Genesio: “If there is a fool, the first is me”

Unable to show the same mastery as in the first period, Stade Rennais in any case let slip a victory that was reaching out to them. And this reminded us that there is still a long way to go for this promising formation as illustrated once again by its start to the meeting. “We said we had learned. But we are demonstrating today that we still have to learn. You will have to ask the right questions. (…) We are fools“, launches Bourigeaud. “I’m the coach of the team, it’s me who makes the decisions, so if there is a fool, the first is me. I was surely more inspired in some matches than tonight“, replies Genesio.

Undefeated in the Europa League this season and for 13 games in all competitions, the Bretons will have to score two more goals than their evening opponent, on the last day, to finish in first place in the group. And thus erase these last missed minutes in Turkey. It will be next Thursday at Roazhon Park against the Cypriots of Larnaca while the Turks of Fenerbahçe will challenge Dynamo kyiv. “For the moment, ‘Fener’ is in front – so they have their fate between their feet – but there is only one goal difference so everything will be possible in the last match,” concludes Genesio.