Even if Brest’s epic in Ligue 1 may seem refreshing, the possible qualification of the Breton club for the next Champions League would not be a gift for the image of French football.
After 30 days of Ligue 1, Stade Brestois occupies third place in the standings, directly qualifying for the group stages of the next Champions League. According to Jérôme Rothen, this is clearly not good news for French football.
“Of course it’s not good news, even if they have merit, to see Brest make the Champions League. Knowing that it is a competition where we often have very few good results with average teams. The Brest budget shows the level of the players,” declared the sports consultant on RMC.
“Brest is going to play in front of 5,000 people, it’s ridiculous”
The former attacking midfielder points out two problems awaiting the Breton club. “By qualifying for the Champions League and doing that season, they are going to lose their best players. They will be very popular, they are important players who have made a difference. Brest is going to play in front of 5,000 people, it’s ridiculous. We are not the Faroe Islands, Luxembourg, we are in France”, recalls Jérôme Rothen.
Indeed, in the event of qualification for a European Cup, Stade Brestois will not be able to accommodate more than 5,000 spectators in its Francis-Le Blé stadium. The Finistère club is considering the possibility of playing in another venue.
