Jorge Sampaoli Seeks to Turn Around Rennes' Season

Jorge Sampaoli is tasked with reviving Rennes' fortunes after a poor start to the season, beginning with a crucial clash against Marseille.

Jorge Sampaoli, the 64-year-old former Argentina coach, has returned to Europe to take the reins at Rennes. However, he faces a significant challenge in reviving the fortunes of the Brittany side, which has struggled this season. This weekend, Rennes will face Marseille, a team Sampaoli is familiar with, having managed them previously.

Sampaoli's managerial career has been marked by notable achievements, including leading Chile to the Copa América title and managing Argentina at the 2018 World Cup. In November, he returned to Ligue 1, taking over at Rennes on a deal that runs until the end of next season. Sampaoli's departure from Marseille two years earlier was abrupt, as he walked out due to disagreements over transfer strategy shortly after leading the team to a second-place finish in Ligue 1 in 2022.

When Sampaoli took over at Rennes, the team was struggling, languishing in the bottom half of the table and sitting just a point above the relegation zone. This is not the position Rennes, which had participated in six consecutive European campaigns before failing to qualify last season, aspires to be in. As one of the richest clubs in France, owned by the Pinault family, Rennes should be competing at the top of the table. However, the team was weakened by the sale of several key players during the last transfer window.

Rennes' new signings from the previous transfer window have struggled to settle, and coach Jorge Sampaoli has not been able to immediately turn the team's fortunes around. Under Sampaoli, Rennes have secured two wins and suffered three defeats in Ligue 1. However, the team has shown resilience at home, where Sampaoli has achieved both of his wins to date.

Despite their wretched away record, with only one point taken from eight games on their travels, Rennes remain strong at home. On Saturday, they will host in-form Marseille at their Roazhon Park home, where Sampaoli will likely be his usual energetic self, pacing back and forth in his technical area. The match will be a significant test for Rennes, who currently sit 13th in the table, just two points above the relegation zone.

To bolster their squad, Rennes has made two key signings in the January transfer window. Ivory Coast playmaker Seko Fofana has joined from Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia for a reported 20 million euros, strengthening Rennes' midfield. France international goalkeeper Brice Samba, the Lens captain, has also signed for an undisclosed fee. Sampaoli expressed his optimism about the new signings, stating, “I hope they will be good signings in the short term and I am certain that they will be very good transfers in the medium term.”

Sampaoli views the new signings as a positive sign for the club's future. “It is a very good sign that the club has managed to bring them in so soon,” he said. The Argentine coach believes the new players will bring a much-needed dynamic to the team. “It is great to have these players who will allow us to rebuild a team which needs a new dynamic,” Sampaoli emphasized.