Stephan: ‘Milan super favourites against Rennes’ | OneFootball

Rennes coach Julien Stephan acknowledges Milan are ‘the super favourites’ for their Europa League play-off and it is ‘the most prestigious game we’ve played’ in Europe.

The first leg of the Europa League play-off kicks off at San Siro on Thursday at 20.00 GMT.

Although Rennes had struggled earlier this season, they go into this game on the back of eight consecutive victories and have brought almost 8,000 fans with them for this prestigious journey.

“We must start at 100 per cent, continue at 100 per cent and end at 100 per cent. There is no other possibility,” said Stephan in his press conference.

“Milan are a quality side and if we drop the intensity at any point, we will get punished. At European level, this is the most prestigious game we’ve played, as Milan have represented so much for decades on the continent.”

There are also many familiar faces with several France internationals in the Rossoneri squad, including Mike Maignan, Olivier Giroud and Theo Hernandez.

“It is motivating to face great opponents and good to know French football is expanding too. We are not worried, but we are on our toes. We can talk about the danger of the Ruben Loftus-Cheek runs forward, but the fact is Milan provide danger in every area of the pitch.

“We need a lot of resources to strengthen the midfield and that is not about the system so much as the way we move and what we allow Milan rather than what we protect. Giroud is their most dangerous forward, but Loftus-Cheek can have an impact too.

“Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic move in different ways, they have different dribbling styles. We will deal with them as a group, with precise organisation and common effort.”

Milan have shown some difficulties against teams who play with a three-man defence, so that could be an option too, but then Rennes don’t wish to change a working formula after eight consecutive victories.

“That gives you confidence and the most important thing will be the start of the game. They will put a lot of pressure on us straight away and we must respond to that intensity.”

The best Milan performance in the Champions League this season was at San Siro against Paris Saint-Germain, so are Rennes afraid of seeing a repeat?

“Not afraid no, but we have no doubts that Milan can perform at that level,” continued the coach.

“I watched many of the Milan matches and the PSG one was their best performance of the season. They belong in the Champions League and we have a great deal of respect for their history.

“Obviously, Milan are super favourites, we are the outsiders and want to make sure the second leg has something to say.”