Is the “French underdog” strong enough to keep up?

With the Europa League’s group phase starting this Thursday in Udine, Stade Rennes is in with the big guns. Those who must be able to play two games a week without slumping. Will they be able to keep-up over the next three months? The question is raised.

With its involvement in Europa League’s group stage, Stade Rennais is representing France on the continental stage alongside the four big names of Ligue 1 that are Marseille, Lyon, Paris and Lille. “We are the French underdog”, Frédéric Antonetti said in a smile after the qualification in Belgrade. This underdog doesn’t want “the gap to stretch with the top 4”.

"An obliged path to keep on growing

The Bretons will have 21 games to play until Christmas: six very intense Europa League games, fourteen in Ligue 1 and one in the Coupe de la Ligue (at Le Mans, on 25th or 26th October). A frightening schedule. “No, we aren’t worried, I’d rather say we’re stepping into unknown territory”, Frédéric Antonetti explains. “The Europa League is energy-consuming, but it is a mandatory step for the players and the club to grow.”

« A la carte » training sessions

The manager has decided to change the « working organisation ». No more long training sessions, time for recovery and “sequences in which we will try to improve what we didn’t do well in the game”. Because of the lack of time, the players will have to learn to “make the transition very quickly from the theory to the practice”. Not always very easy for the young Rennais. “There will be ups and downs”, the manager warns. As an illustration, the unexpected rout in Montpellier (0-4) after the exploit in the Marakana a few days later. There is always a running risk of leaving too much energy in the Europa League games, and collapse afterwards.

"The squad is very large and full of quality »

The Rouge et noir also have strengths however. “We are able to do well in all competitions, promises Boukari, since the squad is very large and full of quality.” Jonathan Pitroipa, Julien Féret and Youssouf Hadji bring their experience and new solutions. “Last season, we couldn’t have coped with playing every three days, Frédéric Antonetti completes,because the lads were new at this level and needed full training weeks to store up all the information. This year, we have a much more solid foundation in terms of football.”

He has warned his players about the stakes of the period awaiting them however, at half time during the return leg of the game against Belgrade. “I told them: You all want to have a great career. Well, managing a great career includes managing to play every three days.”