LOSC faces Stade Rennais this Sunday, as part of the twelfth day of Ligue 1 McDonald's. To introduce this shock which will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Dogues, Le Petit Lillois went to meet Loïc, a Rennes supporter.
What can you tell us about Stade Rennais, its dynamics in this first part of the season?
The word catastrophic sums things up well. There were a lot of changes and Julien Stéphan was clearly no longer the man for the job. I almost want to forget these first three months of competition, because there really isn't much to remember, and concentrate on what's to come. It couldn't be worse anyway.
Jorge Sampaoli is the new arrival in Rennes, what do you think of his arrival?
Excellent question… I keep getting asked this and I never really know what to answer. We will say that the big positive point is that his arrival is the source of great curiosity. I think he can do a lot of good mentally for a group that needs to be shaken up. For the game, I don't expect a revolution overnight. I don't see it establishing itself in the long term, but at least allowing us to raise our heads this season. That's not bad in itself.
Do you believe in a Rennes revival?
Yes, I firmly believe in it. We enlisted a service firefighter with an internationally recognized resume. Not that his latest experiences are very good, but rather that he has a known name that can even leave an impression on the minds of recruits who, let's face it, did not know who Julien Stéphan was. He's a good coach, even if he's lost his way a little lately, but I don't think he's made for locker rooms that aren't French-speaking.
What image do you keep of Bruno Genesio?
I have been a Rennes subscriber for ten years and it was while he was at the head of our team that I saw the most intense and beautiful matches. We were enjoying ourselves. He is very close to the supporters, the employees and is very, very close to his players. Here, we have many good memories of his time and some even regret that he is gone. We are very happy for him, to see that he is succeeding in showing what he is worth in the European Cup. We respect him a lot in Rennes. A little advice, keep it!
As a Stade Rennais supporter, how do you judge the start of the LOSC season?
It's quite impressive. I don't think anyone would have bet on such a run in the Champions League. Thank you for offering us beautiful European evenings, we're having fun all the way to Brittany. On the other hand, in the championship, I think Lille is still purring a little. I don't remember, in the few matches I was able to watch, seeing you being ultra-dominant in your matches and over time, that could be expensive. I'm thinking of Nice and Lyon for example.
What memories do you have of these regular duels between Dogues and Rennais?
Honestly, despite the often mixed results for Rennes, I have good memories of this poster which, in my eyes, represents Ligue 1 well. They are often two playful teams and then, in recent years, the fact that Bourigeaud is in our ranks added that little something. He had this touch of madness, and then this Lensois trait, to have his little effect in Lille (laughs).
Is there a player you are wary of heading into the upcoming duel?
Considering the matches that we are used to experiencing against Lille, we can only mention Jonathan David. He gave us a double during our last visit to the North. If he could calm down, it wouldn't be any worse.
Where do you imagine LOSC and Stade Rennais at the end of the season?
For you, there are no more surprises. LOSC will finish in the top five, as is the case every year (barring an anomaly). It will obviously not be easy despite everything. Beware of physical and mental fatigue with the Champions League. For Rennes, we hope to see a crazy comeback in the coming weeks and if we manage to get involved in the fight for European qualification, that would still be good. We would like to avoid reliving a season like last year.
The 80th anniversary of LOSC, an influence on the match?
It's quite funny, because the environment around the match reminds me a little of last year. I think there was Eden Hazard at the time, or something like that. The atmosphere, which was a little disconnected from the sporting issue, allowed us to get off to a bad start. This could be a trap match. We'll keep our fingers crossed that we'll spoil the party again. It's not against you, but it would be the minimum to celebrate your birthday properly. More seriously, we hope to see some play, that would be a great gift for everyone.
Finally, what would be your scenario and your prediction for this match?
The last matches between the two clubs often end in draws and I think that it would clearly not be a bad result for us to scrape a point. Like last year, I see us scoring quickly, trying to resist, then ending up breaking down in the second period (1-1).
