Ligue 1: For Bruno Genesio, Champions League mission with Rennes

This fall, Stade Rennais will play their 5th European campaign in a row in the Europa League.

If the stated objective is fulfilled, it is difficult to be satisfied with stagnating, despite the often cautious speeches of the coach and competition which promises to be tough.

Elected by his peers "

" in Ligue 1 last season, as a reward for the quality of the game offered by Rennes, the 55-year-old coach can also count on a still ambitious transfer window, as shown by the recruitment of the experienced Steve Mandanda in the cages.

To discover

• Calendar and results Ligue 1

• League 1 standings

Bruno Genesio, who arrived in March 2021 after the resignation of Julien Stéphan who could no longer find the levers to revive a distraught team, slipped perfectly into the Breton mould.

And he brought his paw to it: the game offered, the flamboyant matches, the results... In early July, its extension until 2025 seemed obvious.

“

"with the Rennes leaders, slipped Genesio at the start of the summer preparation.

"

, ”he insisted.

We know it's not going to be easy, we have to stay reasonable.

Steve Mandanda

For this, Mandanda arrived with the mission of overcoming the approximations of Alfred Gomis, whom Genesio considered not decisive enough, even if he also suffered from frequent defensive errors.

For the former Lyonnais, a more solid goalkeeper would have won "

" for Rennes.

Fourth, 3 points from the podium, where the team spent 12 of the 38 days last year, Rennes is increasingly assuming its ambitions.

The 2018 world champion goalkeeper was very clear: “

“, recognized the former Marseillais.

Behind a seemingly untouchable PSG, OM, but also Lyon and Nice, have sharpened their fangs this summer, while Lille, but also Lens and Strasbourg, present themselves as serious outsiders.

A young but not inexperienced central defense

Sporting director Florian Maurice has a similar speech: the objective set by the Pinault family, owner of the club since 1998, is indeed Europe.

And “

“, he insisted.

For this, he found two young but already quite experienced central defenders, Arthur Théate and Joe Rodon, to compensate for the departure of Nayef Aguerd to West Ham and the uncertainty which still hangs over Loïc Badé.

He seems to be keeping a large part of his other key elements (Terrier, Traoré, Bourigeaud...), but is still looking for a physical midfielder, and reinforcements in attack, while Bayern Munich have melted on Mathys Such is the 17-year-old nugget that Rennes fans could only have seen last year.