In the summer of 2023, artificial intelligence developed by the sports content platform Opta simulated the progress of the Ligue 1 season, based in particular on the odds from the betting market. According to his predictions, Stade Brestois’ chances of finishing among the top two in the French championship were less than 0.1%. However, nine months later and six days remaining, the Finistère club is in second place in the ranking, ahead of AS Monaco and LOSC Lille and far ahead of neighbor Rennes.
Should we conclude that the randomness of football will always escape this type of prospective study? Or that the people of Brest are putting in a major performance? Probably both. “There is not a supporter who would have bet their savings account on our position at this stage of the season”recognizes the coach, Eric Roy.
Since its arrival in the city of Ponant, the team has been transformed with the means at hand. Understand: a recruitment envelope as thin as a pancake. “I spent 500,000 euros during the summer transfer window”locates the sports director, Grégory Lorenzi.
By only having the fifteenth budget in the championship out of eighteen, Stade Brestois is not able to compete financially with big teams like Olympique de Marseille. However, after 28 days of Ligue 1, 14 points separate him from the Phocéens, eighth. While a medium-sized club like RC Strasbourg can count on new funds since its takeover by an American consortium, the Stade Brestois is still the property of the Le Saint brothers, local industrialists, leaders in the distribution of fresh products in France.
“If we don’t have money, we need ideas”, notes Grégory Lorenzi. The sports director has made a specialty of finding talent at a lower cost. Bradley Locko, Lilian Brassier, Romain Del Castillo… Lacking playing time in their previous club, they bounced back in Finistère. The best move is called Pierre Lees-Melou. Arriving from Norwich, England, in the summer of 2022, the midfielder has become one of the most prominent ball handlers in Ligue 1. He also embodies a certain state of mind. “We are not a group of starsassures the late professional player. Everyone is fighting for each other. »
Dining out every five wins
Not so long ago, with the same framework, Stade Brestois suffered a series of defeats, including a severe 7-0 inflicted at home by Montpellier, on August 28, 2022. Coach Michel Der Zakarian ended up making it fees, replaced by Eric Roy, in January 2023.
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