Julien Stéphan has decided. For the trip to Paris, Wednesday evening in the Coupe de France semi-final, it is Steve Mandanda (39) who will keep the Rennes cage. The former Marseillais will regain his place to the detriment of Gauthier Gallon who had been chosen to start all matches in the competition so far.
Used against Guingamp (L2), Marseille, Sochaux (N1) and Le Puy Foot 43 (N2), the former Trojan, recruited last summer as an understudy, was informed that he will not start the match at the Parc des Princes against PSG. An anticipated decision by the technical staff who did not wish to maintain the vagueness any longer concerning the identity of the starting goalkeeper against the Parisians.
Mandanda's experience certainly weighed heavily in the decision. Appointed captain of Stade Rennais upon the arrival of Julien Stéphan at the end of November, the ex-Le Havre player will take on this role in two days against an opponent he knows by heart having already faced him 34 times in his career (10 victories , 4 draws, 20 defeats).