Stade Rennais FC coach Bruno Genesio urged his team to make sure they hold onto their place in the top three and secure Champions League qualification after Saturday’s 2-0 win over AS Saint-Etienne at Roazhon Park.
Croatian star Lovro Majer scored both goals, one in each half, as the Bretons won in front of their own fans for the second weekend running and ensured that they will end the weekend on the podium whatever happens elsewhere - they sit three points clear of fourth-placed AS Monaco before the principality side play on Sunday, but Rennes have a far superior goal difference.
“We still have three matches to win to finish at least third. I think we are capable of doing it. It will be very difficult but we need to have that ambition,” said Genesio, whose side are also five points better off than RC Strasbourg Alsace and OGC Nice, with fifth place going into the Europa Conference League, the competition in which Rennes reached the last 16 this season.
“Our objective remains making sure we qualify for Europe for a fifth consecutive year, but right now we are third and we will do everything to hold onto that place.”
Dupraz 'optimistic' for Saint-Etienne
Meanwhile 10-time champions Saint-Etienne will finish the weekend still in the relegation play-off place and now have just three more games to drag themselves to guaranteed safety.
“We have been in a difficult situation for a long time and the players deserve credit for getting back in with a chance of staying up,” said coach Pascal Dupraz. “I am very optimistic, but I am realistic too. I know it will be hard but we still have our fate in our own hands.”
>> MATCH REPORT: Majer scores brace as Rennes hold onto podium place