Rennes coach Julien Stéphan insisted that fatigue was not an issue as his side slumped to a 2-1 home defeat against Angers SCO on Friday, three days after making their UEFA Champions League bow.
“We know it’s difficult playing every three days but we fought tirelessly last season to have the chance to play all these games” Stéphan said after the defeat at Roazhon Park.
“And I don’t think it’s a physical issue, because otherwise we would not have been capable of pushing on the way we did at the end of the match.”
After drawing 1-1 at home to Russian side Krasnodar on Tuesday, Rennes went in front against Angers thanks to an early Adrien Hunou goal only for the visitors to fight back and end the Bretons’ unbeaten start to the campaign.
“We started well up until the goal and then unfortunately, like on Tuesday, we conceded the equaliser far too quickly,” said Stéphan. “We were lacking in far too many areas. We were cut in two and were not good enough in possession. We didn’t turn up for at least two-thirds of the game. We have quality throughout the squad but we lost our intensity and gave away too many chances.”
'The right time' for Angers
Rennes must now pick themselves up before going to Sevilla in midweek for their second Champions League group game. Meanwhile, Angers were left to savour a fine result that was in stark contrast with their most recent away trips, including a 6-1 thumping at Paris Saint-Germain just before the international break.
“It was the right time for us to come here so soon after their game in midweek, but we still had to seize the opportunity,” said Angers coach Stéphane Moulin, who saw Sofiane Boufal and Angelo Fulgini get the goals for his team.
“We had conceded 10 goals in our last two away games, four at Montpellier and then six in Paris. We had to close the sluice gates and I was pleased with the way we did it. The most important thing now is that we reproduce this performance.”