At Roazhon Park.
He had fire in his legs. Already holder in Brest on Sunday, Stade Rennais winger Jérémy Doku seemed animated by an inner strength this Thursday when the first match of a French club in the brand new Europa League Conference kicked off. Boiling, the Belgian winger tried a lot to overflow, using and abusing his backstroke which defenders are already wary of. Pleasant but too often messy. On the other side of the field, Ghanaian Kamaldeen Sulemana was working in a more subtle avoidance register, undermining the rearguard of Rosenborg: small or large bridge, overflow on the corner line and counter-flash.
Despite their fiery legs, the two wingers failed to be decisive. Carried by a brilliant Benjamin Bourigeaud, decisive double passer for the head shots of Nayef Aguerd and Serhou Guirassy, the Rennais all the same accomplished their mission by beating Rosenborg (2-0) on the occasion of the first jump of this new Cup from Europe. During all this aerial exercise, Rennes made extensive use of its wings. But he’ll have to adjust the flight plan. Because Thursday evening, faced with a modest Norwegian team often exceeded, the two Rennes wingers neither scored nor delivered a die pass. Apart from a tense cross from Sulemana released by Hansen, the two men did not frame. “I can tell you that when you are lateral and you have opponents like them, you often look at the clock”, tempered Bruno Genesio at the end of the meeting.
Congratulations to the players, the staff and the public !! Very nice atmosphere !!! Good mastery of our Rennes, of the game, of aggressiveness. Little frustration with Sulemana and Doku’s performance, but it’s only the start of the season. It will be necessary to confirm in the second leg. #SRFCRBK
– DavidL (@ DavidLenzo35) August 19, 2021
The coach seems to appreciate this 4-3-3 system where the two wingers act as free electrons. “Even if there is waste, it is always interesting in the creation. I really liked Jérémy’s (Doku) match. He tried a lot, he applied himself to the withdrawal too, ”said their coach. Recruited for 25 million euros last summer, the Belgian delivered a good Euro with Belgium. After a year of adaptation to Ligue 1, the former Anderlecht player knows he is expected.
“Sometimes, they feign the attacker”
His counterpart on the left wing did not take the time to wait. Scorer against Lens on the first day of Ligue 1, Kamaldeen Sulemana has not flamed since his praline planted in Jean-Louis Leca. Since then, the former Nordsjaelland player bought 15 million euros has been more discreet, both in Brest and Thursday against Rosenborg.
Beyond their qualities of crossing, it will be necessary to watch out for their capacity to make play the others. Against the Norwegians, the relationship with Martin Terrier was not always obvious. Substitute but scorer, Serhou Guirassy prefers to laugh. “It’s a bit difficult, they go very fast. Sometimes, they feint the attacker, ”jokes their teammate. Before explaining himself. “When they have the ball you know they can dribble. So you get ready ”. The side of FC Nantes are warned. On Sunday, they too will have to be ready. On pain of catching a cold.