With star goalscorer Martin Terrier out for the rest of the season with an ACL injury, Stade Rennais have lost an essential element in their attacking play and will have to reinvent themselves to maintain their excellent form this season.

How exactly they will do that remains unclear, but the first hints will be forthcoming on Saturday, when the Brittany club travel to Bordeaux for the Coupe de France round of 64 (20:45). Rennes will have to learn to do without Terrier - something the team has almost never had to do since Bruno Genesio arrived in the dugout in March 2021; Martin Terrier has played 79 games with Rennes, missing just four matches

Shocking

First, there was sadness at the cries of pain form the indefatigable and well-loved player, who has showcased his goal-scoring talents with 33 goals in 68 games since the summer of 2021. Considered a serious contender for a France call-up, and named Ligue 1 Uber Eats player of the month for October, he was in excellent form before his injury against Nice, the team's first defender and its most clinical finisher.

The fans gave him a standing ovation, the players went to comfort him, the messages flowed on social networks... Then, the dreaded verdict fell: a rupture of the cruciate ligaments of the right knee and surgery to come. Terrier is unlikely to throw his darts - his signature goal celebration - again until next season.

'Impossible' to replace Terrier

Above all, Terrier was one of the pillars of Genesio's pass-and-move style, to which he brought accuracy and fluidity. The club was also very proud to have been able to keep him this summer, despite the interest he had garnered - in particular in England.

"Martin is one of the leaders of the attack, and he is also very important in the construction of our game. His will be a very difficult absence to fill," said the coach on Monday night, just after he had just sent the young Matthlis Abline on loan to Auxerre to get more playing time.

The club could try to take advantage of the January transfer window to find a reinforcement, but Genesio believes he already has options in his squad.

"Replacing Martin is impossible," insisted Genesio. "There are players who are here who have not had much playing time lately and who will have the opportunity to show what they've got."

Could this be the time for Jeremy Doku and Kamaldeen Sulemana, the two mesmerising speedsters who were so promising at the beginning of last season but who have been struggling for fitness and form in the current campaign?

Jérémy Doku looking 'promising'

After a series of injuries, the two wingers are finally available, but they a very different role from Terrier. And at only 20 years old, they still lack experience. Some of Sulemana's dribbling cost Rennes dearly in the autumn while Doku, who came on for Terrier against Nice on Monday, has plenty of speed and power but lacked a certain unpredictability in his game.

However, Bruno Genesio appreciated the Belgian international's contribution: "In terms of spirit, he was very promising. He was a handful for defenders but he got back into position and made plenty of defensive efforts. Afterwards, there are perhaps one or two offensive choices where he could have done better; but he also needs confidence."

Change of formation?

Genesio can also look to Amine Gouiri, who has a more complete attacking profile, but the striker prefers playing through the middle - playing on the wing did not suit him last season at Nice.

"I also have the option of using a different formation," said Genesio, who could indeed abandon the 4-4-2, which is very dependent on the talents of Terrier and Benjamin Bourigeaud on the flanks, and switch to a 4-3-3 that would make room for Rennes' rich array of midfield talent. This is the option he chose in early November in Lille, in the only previous game this season without Terrier. But it didn't go well, and Genesio's men were lucky to get a point from a game in which they were largely dominated by their hosts (1-1).