The Stade Rennais goalkeeper almost scored a penalty when he came out against LOSC striker Timothy Weah on January 24, 2021. -

AFP

  • Stade Rennais were beaten by LOSC 1-0 on Sunday at Roazhon Park and saw their opponents take a nine point lead.

  • The goal was scored by the Canadian Jonathan David after a clearance from the hand too soft from Romain Salin.

  • The hierarchy of goalkeepers is not clearly established at Stade Rennais, which had recruited Alfred Gomis for more than 15 million euros.

At Roazhon Park.

It is an image that we never see.

On Sunday, Rennes goalkeeper Romain Salin was very close to crossing the center line with the ball at his foot, after an exit very far from his goal of which he has no secret.

Most surprisingly, he had at least three or four partners behind him.

The porter of Stade Rennais is like that.

He likes to be far from his cage, to lead, even if it means breaking his voice to give his instructions in the silence of empty stadiums.

From the top of his 36 years, the former Sporting Portugal goalkeeper is living a season like no other.

Promised to a role of lining Edouard Mendy, he saw the usual holder join Chelsea, before welcoming Alfred Gomis, recruited in haste for more than 15 million euros.

With such an amount, it seemed clear that the number 1 role would go to the Senegalese goalkeeper for the Champions League and the championship.

The injuries and half-hearted performance of the rookie decided otherwise.

Sunday, he was still the holder.

And it was partly because of him that Stade Rennais conceded the only goal of the game, which gave LOSC the three points.

On a returning corner softly released from the hand, Salin saw Jonathan David crucify him closely, not helping by the strange defensive position of captain Hamari Traoré.

"I don't like to individualize criticism"

It would be unfair to accuse the Rennes goalkeeper of having cost his team the match.

Julien Stéphan did not fail to recall it.

“We had 75 minutes left to do better.

I do not like to individualize the criticism, “replied the Breton coach after the meeting.

On Sunday, his goalkeeper even put out some beautiful parades to prevent his team from a heavier defeat.

He even had the good idea to defend standing against young Weah, avoiding a penalty that seemed ready.

But the facts are there.

Already against Lyon, it was on a completely failed aerial exit that OL had equalized by Denayer.

If the 36-year-old doorman sometimes surprises in the air, he currently enjoys the confidence of his coach.

But for how long ?

“The hierarchy of goalkeepers will be communicated.

Romain played for a while because Alfred was injured.

I made the choice to maintain it, ”said Julien Stéphan, before adding.

"We will think about all that".

Alfred Gomis and his kicking problem

It is not impossible to see Alfred Gomis quickly enough in the Rennes goals.

But that will require him to solve his problem with the footwork, shouting when he started.

His captain Hamari Traoré prefers to put him into perspective.

“We beat Marseille, we drew against Lyon.

Today, we lost.

This is not the end of the world ".

Simply the end of a series that started in early December after a loss to Sevilla for the last European match.

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