Stade Rennais sealed a famous win on Sunday as Les Rouge et Noir defeated Ligue 1 leaders PSG thanks to a 65th minute goal from skipper Hamari Traoré. Fifth-placed Rennes engineered a record sixth win against QSI-era PSG with an industrial performance masterminded by French manager Bruno Génésio. The 56-year-old former Lyon manager implemented a tight 5-man defence that overwhelmed PSG’s attacking intent.
Rennes manager Bruno Génésio reveals what he told Kylian Mbappé before the striker came on:
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) January 16, 2023
"I congratulated him for everything he’s doing and everything he’s going to do still. Aside from the great player he is, he’s also someone who I appreciate."https://t.co/LiDJxMqkue
Génésio relished a huge collective performance and congratulated his heavily-depleted squad. “After our Clermont setback, we changed our tactical plan,” said Genesio in the mixed zone. “We worked very little on it. We showcased some of our other strengths. Our tactical discipline was crucial. It’s a must-have against top teams, because it’s not possible to score 3-4 goals against Paris, Marseille or Lens. It required self-sacrifice, a lot of discipline. We managed that.“
Stade Rennais missed several key players as mercurial striker Martin Terrier and midfielder Xeka face lengthy spells on the sidelines. Playmaker Benjamin Bourigeaud and center-back Warmed Omari were both suspended following their red cards against Clermont. Génésio lauded the mindset of the players who stepped up, such as Tottenham loanee Joe Rodon and bright young prospects Lesley Ugochukwu and Desiré Doué. “For some of them who don’t play much, it’s not easy to be able to do what they did. But it shows how well they’re trained. It is testament to this squad’s impeccable attitude.“
At last, Génésio spoke of his idea to play five at the back against Christophe Galtier’s Parisiens. “I observed the PSG games and we pinpointed that the teams they struggled against played that way, with a clear game plan. I consulted some of my senior players, and they all sticked to it. I’m lucky to have intelligent players that were familiar with a 5-man defence. This saved us time.“
GFFN | Bastien Cheval
