Football Season Guide

After four frustrating seasons for Rennes, they are hoping to maintain and strengthen their place French football’s top eight under the stewardship of Christian Gourcuff. Between 2005 and 2012, only once did they fail to finish in that bracket, and though they achieved that mark last term, they did so by the narrowest of margins. Philippe Montanier departed midway through the season, with sporting director Rolland Courbis leading the club for the latter part of the campaign. In Gourcuff, though, they have a local coach who knows both the club and how to achieve success. He may never have been taken on by one of France’s giants, but he has been a steadily impressive boss in Ligue 1 over the years and is likely to get his side playing a passing brand of football. There was little consistency to the team selection last term, and even now the squad remains rather bloated with players who will rarely be used. Over the course of the summer, Rennes lost the talents of forward Ousmane Dembele, who completed a big-money move to Borussia Dortmund. They have not been in a hurry to replace him, though offensively in the second half of last term they leaned on the teenager. Giovanni Sio is their most dangerous forward player is currently looking likely to be the forward they lean upon, while their real threat will come from wide. Kamil Grosicki was underused last season and showed his true qualities in Euro 2016, while Paul-Georges Ntep is Rennes’ most talented player. Ntep’s only problem, though, will be staying fit. Equally, Yoann Gourcuff, the coach’s son, is capable of brilliance if his body allows. Having two stars so fragile is a recipe for disaster, however. Defensively, they are well placed in midfield with Clement Chantome and Gelson Fernandes on their books, while in the rearguard Ramy Bensebaini (ex-Montpellier) has been signed to bring more depth to a centre-back area already boasting Pedro Mendes and Mexer – two commendable players. Rennes have plenty of depth in this area, even if there are physical doubts over those players, too, while in goal Benoit Costil is a very good Ligue 1-level goalkeeper.