Rennes coach ahead of Sturm: "We are by no means favorites"

SK Sturm Graz faces a tough start to the new UEFA Europa League season on Wednesday (9:00 PM CEST, live ticker>>>). At home, Graz will host Stade Rennes, who finished sixth in France last season.

The club from Brittany has also started this season very well so far. After four matchdays, Rennes is level on points with leader Lille in third place in the table.

The coach of the French side, Franck Haise, expects a strong Graz team: "They are capable of creating numerous goal-scoring opportunities, with a very direct, fast-paced style of play. And that in an atmosphere that will certainly be very heated."

Experience speaks for Sturm

He doesn't see the role of favorites as clearly distributed. "We must show great respect to all our opponents and I certainly don't consider us the favorites. But we have quality, we have to play our own football, and we have to know how to master the more difficult moments of the season – hopefully not already on Wednesday," Haise says ahead of the match.

While Graz is already playing its sixth consecutive European group or league phase this season, Rennes is participating in European competition again for the first time in four years.

"Sturm Graz is a team that has been accustomed to European competition for some time, especially here, where matches always turn out very close," says the 55-year-old Frenchman.

Furthermore, Haise might start the rotation against Sturm. "You always have to expect changes. In the first four matches, sixteen players were in the starting eleven, and twenty-one were used. With three games per week, it is likely that some players will be in the starting eleven more often at the beginning of the season," says the coach.