Why does Stade Rennes concede so many goals?
After having conceded four goals in Saint-Étienne, Stade Rennais will be hosts to Lille, one of the best attacks in Ligue 1, this Sunday. Not reassuring for a contender for European places, but Rennes is possibly showing the signs of a new way of playing.
Against Saint-Étienne last week-end, the Rennes defence was beaten four times. And this Sunday, in front of Canal +’s camera, third-placed Lille is coming to town with its attacking armada (42 goals scored this season).
Seventh in Ligue 1 with 39 points, Stade Rennes has already conceded 29 goals in 24 Ligue 1 games, making it the eleventh defence in the league. The strength of last season has become a cause of concern. Basing their game on its great defensive stability, the Bretons had finished last season with the best defence in France (35 goals conceded). “Last year, it wasn’t the same team or the same tactics, affirms Frédéric Antonetti. We were stronger defensively, for we had one more defensive player and we often played with only one attacking player.”
« We play a risky game »
With a real playmaker and two attacking wingers, Stade Rennais is producing a free flowing game. There haven’t been many games in which the team was truly dominated by its opponent. “This season, we have been playing open games, Frédéric Antonetti underlines. We play a risky game and sometimes we can be trapped. I don’t accept it easily, but you have to concede chances”. According to him, “when you play with four attack-minded players, you can’t be as strong defensively”.
Looking for the right balance
« You can’t put all the blame on the four defenders, since the whole team is defending, Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik reminds. This season, we are scoring more goals, but we will quickly need to find the balance we had last year».
Indeed, Stade Rennes is yet to find the ideal formula to transform its improvements in the play into a real positive run. “We are conceding goals too easily, and we also need to be more efficient”, Frédéric Antonetti reckons, expecting more consistency from his team. According to Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik, «against Lille, we will play as we usually do but we will need to be focused, determined and rigorous”. A necessary condition, against a Lille team that averages a whopping 59% share of the ball possession on the road.
Nicolas Auffray - Le Mensuel de Rennes
- Photo: www.rennes.lemensuel.com