A real baptism of fire.
And a little music from the Champions League expected by a whole region at 9 p.m. this Tuesday evening, to face the Russian club of Krasnodar.
At least by the 5,000 Rennes supporters present at Roazhon Park, the Covid-19 crisis requires.
For the first time in its existence, Stade Rennais is getting ready to dive into the deep end of the most beautiful European Cup.
With greed, ambition but not without fear.
An unprecedented presence which also rewards the direction taken in recent years by the club held since 1998 by the Pinault family (5th richest in France in 2020, according to Challenges) and the establishment of a triumvirate Nicolas Holveck (president, 49 years old ) - Florian Maurice (sports director, 46 years old) - Julien Stéphan (trainer, 40 years old) with a fresh and ambitious outlook.
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With the full support of its bosses, the trio has just concluded a first summer with an attractive transfer window (€ 80 million spent, € 50 million in sales) of attractive recruits such as the young 18-year-old Belgian nugget, Jérémy Doku, bought € 26m (most expensive player in club history) or Italian Juventus defender Daniele Rugani.
For a report that only the results will validate or not but which already testifies to the potential of the club with the players.
And the effort made by the Pinault family to install Rennes at the top of the Ligue 1 table and shine in Europe.
“The shareholder assumed the Covid risk, which is far from neutral, plant Nicolas Holveck.
We were able to move forward thanks to its support and not take into account the loss of revenue from ticketing and hospitality, ie between 10 and 15 million euros.
It is a luxury.
"What can not testify, for example, André Villas-Boas with his American bosses at OM ...
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Certainly, the Champions League is attractive to recruit new elements, but the work and success of Rennes also validate the trajectory taken in recent years.
In peace, the Breton club progresses and looks change towards it.
Already a first victory in the small world of French football, which has long mocked the red and black club by accusing it of "loser".
A trend confirmed by Julien Stéphan, presented by some as the rising figure of French coaches in the technician market.
"Our recent results (3rd in Ligue 1 last season, winner of the Coupe de France in 2019, Editor's note) take away this label of losers", testifies the son of Guy, assistant to Didier Deschamps in Blues, impatient at the idea to rub shoulders with the European elite.
"The team has ambition but knows how to remain humble"
Francois-Henri Pinault
In a group also composed of Chelsea, author of an XXL transfer window (223 M € spent) and Sevilla FC, six Europa Leagues on the prize list when France as a whole has only two successes on the Old Continent, the reception of Krasnodar , seventh in the Russian championship, will already set the tone for Rennes' ambitions this Tuesday.
A defeat would already undermine the club's hopes when a victory would give free rein to all ambition (s).
Officially, Rennes is aiming for at least third place in the group, synonymous with transfer to the Europa League at the end of the group stages, unofficially, second place, qualifying for the round of 16, occupies the minds of Stéphan and his group.
Which would be a real achievement for the current 107th in the UEFA ranking.
“The team has ambition but knows how to remain humble, breathes François-Henri Pinault, son of the businessman and husband of Mexican actress Salma Hayek.
She has a dream and her eyes are fixed on where she wants to go.
“In his wildest dreams, the latter sees her climb to the final.
We won't ask for so much at Stade Rennais.
A victory and the baptism of fire would forever remain in the annals of the club.
There would be worse hazing.
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