The story is beautiful...

Four months ago, there was a terrible scare about Fabien Lemoine’s health, serious concerns he would never return to a football pitch again. Today, it is acceptable to say that this time will remain as a bad memory. In a pretty dull game slowly drifting towards Stade Rennes’ sixth 0-0 of the season in Ligue 1, Frédéric Antonetti decided to introduce the Breton midfielder during the injury time.

With a standing ovation to welcome him, Lemoine made his big comeback to Ligue 1, after he underwent surgery to have a kidney removed in August. Certainly not a set-pieces specialist in the past, the man from Fougères took the responsibility to kick them with great care. On his second try, Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik jumped above everyone else to blast the ball into Nicolas Penneteau’s net.

Suddenly, a breeze of fresh air was passing through the Route de Lorient, at the sight of Lemoine, running around in pure elation to celebrate the goal with Johann Carrasso, Jirès Kembo and Nicolas Dyon, the club’s fitness coach. As soon as the final whistle was blown, the player’s emotion was tangible: “I could not dream anything better… I did not have much time on the pitch but I thank the coach for letting me play a few minutes. It’s massive, I’m so happy. The memory will be there for ever. But tonight, it’s one of the most beautiful days in my life". Understandable, certainly!

A trigger point?

Sometimes, there are key-moments in a season, moments that unite a group on their way to success. This could be one of them, as long as the team doesn’t repeat, in the future, such boring games. At some point, the last-gasp victories may not be Stade Rennes’ as it was the case yesterday or earlier this season against Sochaux (2-1).

Indeed, before this finale, Rennes seemed unable to find any breach in a solidly organised Valenciennes team. Despite camping in the opposition’s half for most of the game, Frédéric Antonetti’s men failed to create any clear chance despite full control of the ball at midfield. But in order to profit of their domination, more movement and availability would have been needed. On the other side, Valenciennes took their chance, and Douchez was forced to produce two brilliant saves in front of Gaël Danic and Rémi Gomis (31’, 56’).

Leading his forwards, Tongo Doumbia was first to take his chance. But his curled shot only skimmed Nicolas Penneteau’s goal corner (70’). Five minutes later, Yann M’Vila launched Abdoul Camara, but the left winger’s shot was off target. Nothing else to say about the match, you know the ending…

Jebbour, Premiere

After Yacine Brahimi, Tongo Doumbia and Samuel Souprayen, Yassine Jebbour was next to start his career in Ligue 1 under Frédéric Antonetti’s management. A regular starter at right back for the reserve team since two years, the French-Moroccan is one of the rare young players, along with Yann M’Vila, to have signed a professional contract at the Stade Rennais directly, without even signing a professional trainee contract in the meantime.

In June 2009, the Rennes management played it cautiously by offering him a three years contract. Meanwhile, the former midfielder could work in full serenity and earned Laurent Huard’s confidence with the reserve. Captain of the Gambardella squad last year, Jebbour could not stop Stade Rennes to be knocked out precociously in the round of 16, against Paris FC (1-0), then playing in a lower division.

Earlier this season however, nothing could let one think that Jebbour was going to discover professional football, in a very dense defensive line. Looking tense before kick-off, the Rennes youngster did well for his Premiere, against another rookie, Tam-Hee Nam. The two players got involved in a quality duel, with none of them too really taking the edge.

Getting over the pressure, Jebbour played it safely, taking little risk, but already showing maturity in his interventions, as his cover work when he came to the rescue after an error by the Rennes centre-backs (19’). Rarely put in danger defensively, the Poitiers-born managed a good game and could return as soon as Wednesday in Caen. Things change so quickly in football.

- Photo : srfc.frenchwill.fr