Rennes boss makes 'crisis' claim as Jeremy Jacquet return goes wrong after Liverpool transfer

Jeremy Jacquet's return for Rennes didn't go to plan following his signing for Liverpool, with the defender finding himself on the receiving end of a defeat against Marseille

Jeremy Jacquet started for Rennes against Marseille just a day after signing for Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

Rennes boss Habib Beye bemoaned his side’s defending as Jeremy Jacquet’s return after completing his transfer to Liverpool didn’t go to plan.

Having been on Merseyside on Monday to undergo his medical with the Reds, Jacquet was back in France on Tuesday, and straight into the Rennes starting line-up as it faced Marseille in the last-16 of the Coupe de France.

The tie at the Stade Velodrome couldn’t have got off to a much worse start for the 20-year-old and his teammates though, with the hosts taking the lead inside the opening two minutes after Amine Gouiri’s goal, and things didn’t get much better thereafter for Rennes.

The visitors fell to a 3-0 defeat, with Mason Greenwood and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang adding to the scoreline after the break, and sending Jacquet’s side crashing out of the competition.

It’s the latest in a set of poor results for Rennes, which has conceded nine goals in its last three games in all competitions, and failed to score in any of those encounters.

Speaking to beIN Sports after the defeat to Marseille, Beye was far from happy with his side’s defensive efforts, although he still insisted he was “proud” of his team’s efforts.

Jeremy Jacquet (left) in action for Rennes against Marseille(Image: Getty Images)

"If we concede so many goals, it's because we're making mistakes,” the Rennes boss said. “In matches like this, we can't afford to make them. We're punished immediately.

“In these situations, conceding so many goals, we can't expect to win matches. I'm proud of what they produced in the game."

Beye also came out with some curious comments during his post-match press conference, saying (as per George Boxall): “I know OM [Marseille] very well. I know someone that once said when a fire starts in Marseille sometimes you have to let it burn. Crisis can be good for this club.”

Jacquet will be hoping the remainder of his time at Rennes will go much better. The defender is set to stay with his boyhood club for the rest of the season before he completes his move to Liverpool in the summer.

A five-year deal has been agreed with the Reds, which will keep Jacquet at Anfield until the summer of 2031, with Liverpool having beaten Chelsea to his signing after the Blues had appeared to be leading the race in January.

“I am honoured to sign for Liverpool, one of the greatest football institutions in the world,” Jacquet said in a statement after his transfer was announced.

“It was also very important for me to finish my time in red and black on a high, at my boyhood club, the club of my heart.

“I'm approaching this second half of the season with the desire to experience some great moments with my team-mates and the fans.”