The Brestois are achieving feats in the Champions League but are in agony in Ligue 1, closer to the red zone than to Europe. The trip to Monaco on Friday promises to be perilous.
Brest is benefiting in the Champions League and it is doing well, because it is not sure of returning there. For its discovery of the prestigious European competition, the Finistère club, little thumb among the 36 teams, is working miracles. Halfway through, he is in 4th place in the league phase, still undefeated, and already has one foot in the round of 16. Enough to forget the gloomy situation in the championship.
Stade Brestois is 12th after eleven days, with three points ahead of Saint-Étienne, 16th and a barrier for maintenance, and four points behind the top 6. Above all, it has just suffered two defeats against Nice (0 -1) and with the red lantern, Montpellier (3-1), interspersed with a victory in C1 on the lawn of Sparta Prague (1-2). “It was the ideal preparation but we didn’t have the drive, the enthusiasm”railed coach Eric Roy after the setback in Hérault.
The international break to “find the right state of mind”
Returned to the elite in 2019, Brest was ranked between 11e and the 17e place every year before his incredible season on the podium. Back to earth. “There is a great emergency, a very great emergency, Roy alerted. We’re going to have to get back into working order in the championship.” It won't be easy. For the post-international break resumption, Brest will meet in the Principality this Friday (7 p.m.) against AS Monaco, runner-up to PSG in the standings.
David W Cerny / REUTERS
Should we see in these difficulties in Ligue 1 the repercussions of the Champions League, physically and mentally? “It will do us good to take a few days off, to recharge our batteries, to regain our strength and the right state of mind”Roy admitted two weeks ago. The SB29 will need strength all the more as it will continue on Tuesday with a trip to Barcelona, to challenge the best attack in Europe (55 goals in 17 matches).
Roy, 57 years old and in post since January 2023, cannot complain about the infirmary, empty apart from right back Bradley Locko, victim of a ruptured Achilles tendon last August. The SB29 can count on its executives, from its playing master Pierre Lees-Melou – returned from injury a month and a half ago – to its defender and captain Brendan Chardonnet, in better shape than ever. Two players who have gone down like the collective during the last two outings in L1. “We will have to scratch points as quickly as possible”worried Chardonnet after Montpellier. Taking one in Monaco would soothe the beginning of the tension that is emerging.
