Tomorrow, the Stade Rennais moves on the turf of Dynamo Kiev in Europa League (18 h 55). Little seen since the beginning of the season, the neo-Rennais Roman Del Castillo delivered his best performance Saturday in Caen.
"In the second half, Romain Del Castillo was Leo Messi." The comparison comes from a supporter of the Stade Rennais and if it turns out to be true only on the measurements of the two players (1.72 m for Del Castillo, 1.70 for Mess), it testifies to the remarkable score delivered by the former Lyonnais and Nîmes at the Michel D'Ornano stadium.
On the left side of the attack Rennes, sometimes to the right and for sixty minutes, the international hope has regaled by its quality of dribbling, his touch of ball in the small spaces and its quality of center. The list is non-exhaustive: a center of law for the head of Sarr (45 '), another of the left on the ground for the recovery of Hunou (45' + 2), a shot that leads to the opening of the score ( 60 ') or a decisive pass for Sarr (69').
"Not up to it previously"
"I'm happy to see Romain's performance , " said Sabri Lamouchi, who has enjoyed his training and profile since the beginning of the preparation. In eleven appearances in Ligue 1 with the Red and Black, it is the first time that the player of 22 years was decisive. So far, his record was more than mixed: 70.5% of successful passes, 43 duels won and 47 lost in five starts (Bordeaux, Nice, Monaco, Reims, Caen) and six entries at stake (Lille, Angers, Marseille , Paris, Toulouse, Saint-Etienne).
"It's my reference match and the team's match, I think," he slipped into the mixed zone on Saturday, "we were in the duels, that's very important." There was a lot of movement on the part The coach trusted me, the previous matches were not up to par and I really wanted to give him back his confidence by doing a very good match.When the first dribbles pass, it puts in confidence. continue like this."
Loaned by his training club Olympique Lyonnais in Ligue 2 in the last two seasons, Del Castillo has been revealed on the lower floor. With Bourg-en-Bresse, he had been decisive (five goals, six assists in thirty-seven appearances), even more during the last exercise where he greatly contributed to the rise of the Nimes Olympique in L1 (four goals, seven assists in thirty-one matches).
Transferred this summer in Brittany, the walk was a little high at first, although we had noticed the talent of the player, especially at the reception of Bordeaux (2-0). Lamouchi did not hesitate to launch this regular of the selection hopes in the Europa League during the first three meetings. Del Castillo had been in front of Jablonec (61 minutes), replacing in Astana (entry to the 68th), then again in front of Kiev (61 minutes).
"My players know how I work and I know them all," says the Rennes technician, "I want to have eleven Rennes at the beginning of each match who are fighting to defend the colors of this club as best as possible." Number 22 scored points in order to occupy a regular place in this starting lineup. As long as it becomes decisive, in the long run.