Brest: the lucid reaction of Eric Roy

Brest is no longer undefeated. After successively beating Sturm Graz, Salzburg, before holding Leverkusen in check and winning against Sparta Prague, the Bretons lost against FC Barcelona (3-0) this Tuesday in the Champions League. Eric Roy did not want to blame his players, believing that they had faced better than them at Montjuïc, after the match. “ We came across a team much stronger than ours, quite simply. We must also recognize that when the opponent is much superior, this is reflected in the score. Even if we still have regrets because we concede goals which are, in my opinion, avoidable. And then the regret too is not having lasted a little longer in the match. We saw it when we almost reduced the score: we could find a situation to put them in difficulty. I haven't seen the action again, but the offside shouldn't be huge. Afterwards, what to say? So much technical mastery in front, so many connections between the players. We feel that a good half of them have been playing together for many years… »

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The 57-year-old coach was full of praise for Hansi Flick's training, one of the best in the world, according to him. “ In any case, positive things will have to be learned from it. My players were confronted with the best in Europe, quite simply. So, to realize the difference, to realize the quality too. To confront is to learn and grow. It was said a lot that we were performing quite well even though we had never played a European Cup match. Unfortunately, tonight, we are no longer undefeated. It's true that we managed to respond to the previous matches, it was perhaps not the cream of the European level, except Leverkusen. But in all cases, we responded. Today, I think the step was a little too high… » With this first setback in C1, Stade Brestois temporarily moves to 9th place in the rankings for this championship phase. Barcelona is second.