Saïd Benrahma has taken responsibility for a crucial mistake that contributed to Olympique Lyonnais’ 3-0 defeat against Rennes in their opening Ligue 1 match of the season. The Algerian winger, who lost possession in the opposing half, indirectly led to Benjamin Bourigeaud’s free-kick that opened the scoring for Rennes on Sunday.
Reflecting on the disappointing result, Benrahma expressed his deep regret and offered an apology to Lyon supporters.
“We are very disappointed; we had a bit of a difficult start to the match,” he said in an interview with DAZN. “We conceded two goals, and after that, it was difficult.
We are really disgusted. We were keen to start this season well, but it didn’t happen. We lost 3-0, and I want to apologize for losing the ball because I put us in that situation.
It’s hard. I am disgusted, but we will raise our heads and focus on the next match.”
Benrahma’s error came during a critical moment in the match when Lyon was looking to assert themselves.
His misplaced pass led to a quick counter-attack, which eventually resulted in the free-kick that Bourigeaud converted.
The goal set the tone for the rest of the match, with Rennes adding two more goals to secure a comprehensive victory.
Lyon’s performance in this match has left fans and players alike disappointed, particularly given the high hopes for the new season.
Benrahma, who joined Lyon with much anticipation, now faces the challenge of putting this setback behind him and proving his worth in the upcoming fixtures.
Lyon head coach Pierre Sage, however, has not singled out Benrahma for criticism, choosing instead to focus on the collective responsibility of the team.
“We all take responsibility for the result,” Sage said in his post-match comments. “It’s important to support each other, especially when things don’t go as planned.
Saïd is a talented player, and I’m confident he will bounce back.”
The upcoming match against AS Monaco presents an opportunity for Benrahma to redeem himself and help Lyon get their season back on track.
With the support of his coach and teammates, the winger will be eager to put the Rennes match behind him and contribute positively to Lyon’s campaign.
As Lyon prepares for their next challenge, Benrahma’s response to this early adversity will be closely watched.
His determination to make amends could be key to turning around the club’s fortunes in the early stages of the Ligue 1 season.
