From our special correspondent in Rennes
Stade Rennais does not have to be ashamed of its performance against a Chelsea team who play the leading roles in the powerful English Premier League.
Faced with London managers, the Bretons even thought to snatch the point of the draw with the goal of equalizing the head of Serhou Guirassy at the end of the match (1-1, 85th).
But the cold British realism allowed Frank Lampard's men to leave with the three points thanks to the goal of Olivier Giroud (entered into play in the 68th minute at the same time as his partner of the French team N'Golo Kanté), in additional time (1-2, 90 + 1 ').
This third defeat in four Champions League matches puts an end to hopes of qualifying in the most prestigious European Cup for Rennes, at the same time as it propels the Blues to the round of 16.
“There is a lot of disappointment given the content of the match, regretted Julien Stéphan.
Apart from the first quarter of an hour, we took the lead on this Chelsea team.
And that was confirmed in the second half.
We have logically equalized.
And then there came the 91st minute which was fatal to us.
The big difference between them and us is that they are more used to the very high level than we are.
I have the feeling that they have been moved as they have rarely been moved for a long time. "
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Two goals against that hurt the heads
But above all, this sixth defeat in seven matches in all competitions risks once again leaving traces in the heads of Brittany.
Perhaps in particular in that of Clément Grenier, the first player to leave the pitch with his head down.
Already little used this season by Julien Stéphan, the former Lyonnais was guilty of the loss of the ball in the midfield at the origin of the second goal, less than a quarter of an hour after coming into play. " We knew that the main danger was the transition phases, recalled the coach of the SRFC after the match.
We knew they were extremely strong on this.
And we take two goals on transition.
One of 70m and one of 40m.
It was played out on that. ”
A too timid start to the match
These kind of small details often tilt the meetings on the side of the big clubs, as we saw in the first leg with referee decisions as questionable as they were unfavorable to the Bretons.
For the fourth match in its history in the Champions League, Stade Rennais also lost because of a missed start to the match.
If Timo Werner hadn't been incredibly clumsy in front of goal, the Blues could even have opened the scoring in the third minute.
It was finally shortly after the first quarter of an hour of play that the fast Callum Hudson-Udoi took all the backhand defense to launch Chelsea to victory (1-0, 22nd).
“We were too low compared to what we had programmed during the first quarter of an hour.
We were dominated.
It was much better when we managed to get back up the block and play for them. ”
"We did honor to the Champions League"
Julien Stephan
The Rennais then managed to climb to the level of the C1, even if that was not enough to avoid the defeat on Tuesday night.
“We did honor to the Champions League, hammered the Stade Rennais coach.
We were largely dominated in Seville, but the other three matches, we were not lucky in showing quality with our means and despite our inexperience at this level.
I saw tonight what I like to see in this team.
Ambition, commitment, game reversals, presence in the penalty area and the ability to create scoring chances.
I saw a lot of good things on which we will be able to rely. "
Comments echoed by Gerzino Nyamsi (rather good for his first game of the season) who welcomed the reaction of his partners after the sad defeat against Bordeaux (0-1) last week in Ligue 1: upgraded.
We did some good things.
We have to rely on it for the future.
After the Bordeaux match, we had to show something else.
I think we did it tonight.
We conceded very few shares.
It's annoying to lose this match. ”
Two vital next matches to turn the tide
The way opens up great prospects for Julien Stéphan's men, but it remains a new defeat while the calendar will continue to unfold its frantic pace.
Now that the most beautiful of European cups has definitively slipped away, the Bretons must re-mobilize to snatch a place in the Europa League.
Beaten by Sevilla FC in added time by the same score as Stade Rennais against the Blues (1-2), Krasnodar posted a small point on the clock, like the Rennais.
Qualification will largely be played next week in Russia, even if Julien Stéphan does not want to talk about a final.
“In Krasnodar, it won't really be a final.
The winner will be moved back to the Europa League, but in the event of a draw, everything will be decided on the last day.
But Krasnodar is in eight days.
Before that, I am thinking of Strasbourg in three days.
I am thinking of recovery and I am thinking of running the clock in the league.
The challenge now is to replicate our performance every three days.
It takes a lot of energy.
We will also have to wash our heads because there was a lot of disappointment and despondency in the locker room.
You have to recover quickly. ”
The challenge is sizeable for Julien Stéphan and his men who must chain together matches ... and good results.
The young Breton coach recalled this week that he wanted to stay at the club but that it would be necessary to take stock at the end of the season, after a three-year cycle.
If Stade Rennais prolongs its black series during the next matches, it is possible that the leaders will try to bring forward the hour of the assessment ...
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