Rennes boss Habib Beye: 'I want us to be unpredictable'

Rennes began their pre-season preparations on Monday at La Piverdière with a clear direction and a confident coach at the helm. After steering the Breton club away from a tricky situation last season, Habib Beye now wants his team to be more competitive — with a new-look backroom staff and a focused recruitment plan in place.

Twenty-five players took part in the first session of the summer under hot conditions, with a handful of internationals including Brice Samba, Mousa Al-Tamari, Mahamadou Nagida, and Fabian Rieder set to return on July 7, and U21 Euros breakout Djaoui Cissé due back around July 20.

Beye, who took over mid-season and revitalised the side, will remain under contract until 2027 if Rennes qualify for European competition, in line with a performance-based extension agreed in June. “I’m a man of challenges. What matters to me isn’t a three- or four-year deal, but rather being tied to performance. If I succeed, I’ll be the coach of Stade Rennais for years to come," said the former Marseille and Newcastle defender to L'Équipe.

“We’ve cleared the ground and know exactly what we’re looking for,” said Beye. “No panic buys. We’re taking our time to evaluate the squad and avoid mistakes. The players here have been validated and will be valued.”

U21 Euros breakout star Djaoui Cissé will hope to kick on next season with Rennes

New Leaders to step forward?

With Steve Mandanda and Adrien Truffert departing, Rennes will look to Brice Samba and Seko Fofana to take on more vocal leadership roles — although Beye has yet to settle on a new captain, ideally a player out on the pitch.

“They’ve already shown leadership, but it’s never easy to assert yourself immediately in a new club. Now, with five more months behind them, they’re growing into their roles. Leadership must be shared among several players.”

Since his arrival, Beye has leaned on a back three — notably Brassier, Rouault, and Jacquet — but prefers tactical adaptability. “I don’t have a fixed system. Last season, we had four months to get results, so we had to anchor certain ideas. But this time, we’ve got seven weeks of preparation. I want us to be unpredictable and master our game model. Whether we play with four, five, or three at the back — we’ll adapt.”

That adaptability will be tested from the opening matchday, when Rennes host Marseille — a clash that could provide the perfect measure of how far Beye’s project has come.