Stade Rennais suffered a crushing 2-5 defeat against OGC Nice, and coach Franck Haise immediately announced changes ahead of the international break. The results of the season show a series of weak points: one goal conceded against Angers, four against PSG, four against Olympique Lyonnais and now five against Nice. These figures illustrate the difficulties encountered by the Breton team, which has been criticized for its lack of aggressiveness, its individual errors and its collective naivety, especially when it is not in possession of the ball.
During the press conference, Haise expressed his displeasure, emphasizing that the problem was not limited to individual fouls, but how the team behaved without the ball. “Beyond the individual errors, it’s what we released as a team when we didn’t have the ball that bothered me. We can’t be a team only when we have the ball,” he said. He also recalled the insufficient defensive investment of his players, which pushed him to make substitutions at half-time, in particular by removing Adrien Thomasson and Przemysław Frankowski. Haise added that he could have made more changes if necessary, indicating his annoyance with the team's general behavior in the first half.
Beyond the immediate adjustments, the coach announced a possible major tactical evolution. He questions his team's ability to defend with a high block, an approach he has always favored to impose his rhythm and exert pressure on the opponent. “Tactically, it’s up to me, this team is perhaps not capable of defending with a high block. We may need to reassure her with a block positioned lower,” he admitted. This modification could be implemented in the next meetings, but Haise also insists on the need for a stronger mental reaction from his players. He wants the team to show more strength, serenity and mischief, both with and with the ball.
The upcoming calendar offers Stade Rennais two opportunities to put these changes into practice. The Bretons will welcome Olympiakos in the Europa League, then LOSC in Ligue 1, two major opponents which will allow Haise to test the new defensive organization and the collective attitude of his group. He stressed that these home matches would be an opportunity to show a real collective face, with an emphasis on defense and cohesion without the ball. The message is clear: after the heavy defeat in Nice, Franck Haise is not content with simple adjustments. Between a possible revision of the defensive system and decisive choices in its starting lineup, Stade Rennais could quickly change its face. It now remains for the players to respond on the pitch, while the patience of the Rennes public could reach its limits.