Breton's great history in the Champions League continued on Wednesday in Prague. Leaving the Czech capital in the dead of night and returning to their land at 4:30 a.m., the people of Brest experienced a short night after another perfect European evening. They won 2-1 without trembling on the Sparta pitch.
At the final whistle on Wednesday at the Stadion Letna in Prague, captain Brendan Chardonnet, hands on hips and smiles on his lips, froze for a few moments almost in disbelief. The Brest bench explodes as one man. Yes, Stade Brestois won again in the Champions League (2-1) and halfway through, the Finisterians are 4th, virtually qualified for the round of 16 and almost assured of a place in the play-offs. The performance is remarkable and should be celebrated as it should be. All the players and staff then head towards the 1,000 supporters filling the Brest parking lot.
There were 400 in Salzburg, almost three times as many in Prague with supporters also in the surrounding stands. At least 3,000 are announced in Barcelona during the next match. So to thank them, songs and dances follow one another. After the cancellation of flights from Nantes due to social unrest, some supporters, like these two fathers and their sons, drove all night from Tuesday to Wednesday from Finistère, a 16-hour drive non-stop. Others, like these five friends met at the airport, headed to Paris at short notice to urgently catch a plane. They certainly do not regret the unanticipated 400 euros spent.
“A great lesson for those who didn’t count on us”
A little later in front of the park, it is Gérard Le Saint who comes to greet the fans frantically waving his arms in the air and receives a standing ovation from the crowd. We had already seen the Brest co-president greedily savoring the European adventures of the club clinking glasses in the bars of downtown Salzburg. Its brother president Denis Le Saint is more discreet but the joy is just as strong as among the partners that the club takes to each away match. The beautiful story between Brest and the biggest European Cup continues.
“A great lesson for those who did not count on us. We must always have respect for others, support French clubs and wish the best,” said Kenny Lala in the mixed zone. In the locker room, the war cry led by Hugo Magnetti resounds, followed by a few dance steps and the now traditional group selfie of the team with the man of the match in the foreground. After Abdallah Sima against Sturm Graz and Salzburg, it was the Swiss Edimilson Fernandes who had the right to the trophy thanks in particular to his magnificent volley on the first goal.
Already 7 million euros in winnings
Financially, with this new victory, Stade Brestois has once again pocketed the tidy sum of 2.1 million euros allocated by UEFA. Which already brings the winnings, just for the matches, to almost 7 million euros. The players did not ask for a double bonus. An agreement was negotiated at the start of the season so that part of the sums won would be returned to the main stakeholders. We don't know in what proportion, but the bonus already looks significant.
The Brestois can be proud, as Eric Roy said after the match, in particular to have 10 points out of 12 possible. “It’s surprising and exceptional.” Of course, the opponent of the evening, Sparta Prague, was weak but to have such control as that of Wednesday, conceding so few chances – Marco Bizot does not have a single save to make before the gap is reduced late from the Czechs – while the club is discovering Europe and the Champions League is a rare performance to highlight, we insist within the Breton club.
Heavy on the agenda
However, there was satisfaction but no euphoria because Brest does not see itself and does not want to be seen as the small club invited into the big leagues. “We get what we deserve”, is one of the most heard phrases as if to put a spin on those who shouted a little too loudly that the Bretons had nothing to do there.
Brest will now face some very heavy stuff in this Champions League with PSV Eindhoven, Donetsk, Real Madrid and first FC Barcelona on the next day. With their 10 points already in the bag, Brest will perhaps be able to breathe and play without pressure? “No no! We don’t want to breathe,” replies Brendan Chardonnet. “We are going to go to Barcelona with ambition, real intentions.” For Eric Roy, “it's obvious that going to Barcelona to win is another story. We're going to hope that in a few days they'll slow down a little bit, but I'm not sure.” And after all, Barcelona is “only” 6th in this Champions League…
