CM · Date published: 3/16/2022 5:42:25 PM
Bruno Genesio knows ‘anything is possible’ as Rennes look to upset Leicester
Rennes coach Bruno Genesio wants his side to draw on memories of their come-from-behind win over Arsenal three years ago as they look to knock Leicester out of the Europa Conference League on Thursday.
Rennes have home advantage for the second leg against the Foxes but are also second favourites after goals from Marc Albrighton and Kelechi Iheanacho gave Brendan Rodgers’ side a 2-0 lead last week.
But Genesio pointed to Rennes’ 3-1 Europa League win over Arsenal in March 2019, when the French side capitalised on a 41st-minute red card for Sokratis Papastathopoulos to wipe out Alex Iowbi’s early goal with strikes from Benjamin Bourigeaud and Ismaila Sarr either side of Nacho Monreal’s own goal.
“We have shown in our short European history that we are capable of scoring goals against big teams,” Genesio said on the club’s website.
“This was the case against Arsenal. I think we have to take inspiration from this game – 1-0 for Arsenal after 10 minutes, 3-1 at the end for Stade Rennais.
“It means that anything is possible. Here we are able to reverse situations and large teams. We have done it before even though I was not the coach. The history of the club is important. We did it in the more recent past, against Lyon and Paris.”
The first-leg loss was Rennes’ only defeat in their last five games, and they come into it after an impressive 4-2 away win over Lyon, having stormed into a 4-0 lead.
However, that victory came at a cost with goalkeeper Alfred Gomis suffering a broken hand in conceding a late penalty.
Gomis’ absence is likely to see teenager Dogan Alemdar step in to replace him.
“He has already played in January and he was quite reassuring even if he has not played many games,” Genesio added.
“It’s an important game but he has to ignore that and focus on his game like the whole team. It is a special position, it will be necessary to prepare well. We trust him.”