“Anyway, here, everyone says it's good, that we've had a good season. I'm not happy. You have to have a little more ambition in this club, or even more. If it’s enough for them to just save every time, I don’t like that.” It is May 21, 2022 and Michel Der Zakarian lets loose in a press conference, taunting his players and managers after a defeat against Bordeaux 4-2 at Le Blé for the last match of the season. Brest finished eleventh in Ligue 1, insufficient for the coach who was sacked a few months later. It was barely two and a half years ago and if “MDZ” holds its share of responsibility for a hasty end to the cycle, the mentality in the locker room has also evolved over time, undoubtedly more “winning” than at an era.
“Our strength? Don't let anything pass”
In fact, arriving in January and July 2023, experienced players Kenny Lala in January 2023 and Jonas Martin first raised the level of demands during training sessions. Éric Roy also uses the dimension taken by Hugo Magnetti and Mahdi Camara, competitors at heart, to spread his speech of commitment within his group. Brest, since the arrival of the Brest coach, has won 42 victories, 19 draws and 25 defeats. From being “nice” as we described it a few years ago, Stade Brestois has become sharp. A state of mind which is reflected in the results, even if certain matches this season have been completely missed in Auxerre, Montpellier and Angers. “Every time we enter the field, we want to win,” proclaims Camara. It has sometimes been less seen this season but we always try to rectify the situation.” “The staff wants to instill that in us and our strength is to not let anything go to waste. When we have our backs against the wall, we know how to bounce back,” underlines Magnetti.
The oldest team in Ligue 1
In Ligue 1 this season, Stade Brestois is the oldest team and therefore the most experienced, which also surely helps it to keep results like in Rennes last Saturday or against Lyon a week before. At the club since 2013, captain Brendan Chardonnet insists on this shared desire “to show. To prove that we can succeed on all three fronts because many promised us hell this season with all these matches.” In addition to the European Cup and the championship, Brest also aims to go as far as possible in the Coupe de France, despite a host of injuries and an intense sequence. “The Coupe de France is a very beautiful competition which also provides emotions,” assures Chardonnet. We are a group of competitors. The L1 is our daily bread, we also want to shine there, go as high as possible, like in the Champions League.” For Éric Roy, “having spoken with some, all competitions are important in their eyes and we try to play everything to the fullest”. “We want to enjoy all the matches, all the competitions,” concludes Chardonnet, leader of a team of “starved people”.
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