Boulaye Dia opens up on bench role after Rennes’ dramatic defeat to Paris FC

Rennes striker Boulaye Dia has explained how he handles being named among the substitutes, insisting that observing a match from the bench helps him identify opportunities before entering the pitch.

The Senegal international shared his thoughts during an interview with Flashscore ahead of Rennes’ Europa League encounter with Juventus, reflecting on the team’s dramatic 4-3 defeat away to Paris FC.

Dia watched much of the Ligue 1 contest from the bench before coming on towards the closing stages, as Rennes suffered a painful defeat after an eventful match featuring several twists and turns.

Asked how he deals mentally with starting on the bench, the former Lazio forward explained that remaining observant allows him to understand the game before getting involved.

“You know the game can change from one moment to the next. When you’re on the bench, you observe a lot and see how things are unfolding. That way, when you come on, you have a clear idea of what you can exploit. Then, once you’re on the pitch, everything happens quickly: a penalty, a foul, no penalty, a disallowed goal… That’s football; these things happen,” he told Flashscore.

The forward has been adapting to life back in French football after spending several seasons in Italy, where he represented Salernitana and Lazio. His experience across different leagues has added depth to Rennes’ attacking options.

Following the disappointment against Paris FC, Dia and his teammates turned their attention to their European assignment against Juventus, seeking a positive response on the continental stage.