In a league obsessed by youth and new signings, Brest are backing older players and keeping their squad together
By Luke Entwistle for Get French Football News
“We’re keeping our feet on the ground,” says Stade Brestois sporting director Grégory Lorenzi, who is refusing to be swept up by the sense of euphoria that has engulfed the club. Brest are fourth in Ligue 1, just two points off second-placed Nice. A club of relatively meagre means, they have set a new blueprint for achieving success, which Sunday’s opponents, Olympique de Marseille, would be wise to follow.
In an attempt to bridge the unbridgeable financial deficit to the behemoth that is PSG, many clubs have followed the now well demarcated path of investing in youth. While it is a strategy that may have considerable benefits off the pitch, the stark reality is that on the pitch, no team has succeeded in consistently challenging PSG in recent seasons. That should come as little surprise; the strategy adopted by clubs such as Lille and Monaco, both of whom pipped PSG to the title before dropping off, breeds ephemeral success, with the most promising assets siphoned off for often eye-watering sums.
Continue reading…In a league obsessed by youth and new signings, Brest are backing older players and keeping their squad togetherBy Luke Entwistle for Get French Football News“We’re keeping our feet on the ground,” says Stade Brestois sporting director Grégory Lorenzi, who is refusing to be swept up by the sense of euphoria that has engulfed the club. Brest are fourth in Ligue 1, just two points off second-placed Nice. A club of relatively meagre means, they have set a new blueprint for achieving success, which Sunday’s opponents, Olympique de Marseille, would be wise to follow.In an attempt to bridge the unbridgeable financial deficit to the behemoth that is PSG, many clubs have followed the now well demarcated path of investing in youth. While it is a strategy that may have considerable benefits off the pitch, the stark reality is that on the pitch, no team has succeeded in consistently challenging PSG in recent seasons. That should come as little surprise; the strategy adopted by clubs such as Lille and Monaco, both of whom pipped PSG to the title before dropping off, breeds ephemeral success, with the most promising assets siphoned off for often eye-watering sums. Continue reading…
