Champions League: Stade Brestois president “had a hidden wish to be able to meet Real Madrid”

The draw for the new Champions League format has awarded Stade Brestois matches with Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, ​​but also Bayer Leverkusen and PSV Eindhoven.

Denis Le Saint, president of Stade Brestois, “had a hidden wish to be able to meet Real Madrid”, he declared on France Bleu Breizh Izel on Thursday, August 29, a few minutes after the draw for the league phase of the Champions League. In the new format of the most prestigious European club cup, 36 clubs will compete in the league phase, within the same ranking, but they will only play eight matches.

Stade Brestois, for its first participation, will face FC Barcelona (away), Real Madrid (home), Bayer Leverkusen (home), Shakhtar Donetsk (away), PSV Eindhoven (home), Salzburg (away), SK Sturm Graz (home), Sparta Prague (away). The order of the matches is not yet defined, the full schedule will be revealed on Saturday.

“A colleague was saying earlier that, out of the 36 teams involved, 35 would have liked to draw Real Madrid”relates Denis Le Saint. “It’s made for us!”he said, full of desire. “In a competition like this, everything is beautiful. We are at the very highest level, everything is magnificent, everything is extraordinary.”

Also facing FC Barcelona, ​​Bayer Leverkusen, PSV Eindhoven… “These are big names, it will please our supporters”adds the president of Stade Brestois. “It gives the city of Brest some influence. We are very happy with the draw.” Denis Le Saint has one wish, however, to come across Real Madrid. “in third or fourth” league match, “rather than in the first or second match”history “to run in the machine”.

In eight years, Brest has gone from Ligue 2 to the Champions League. A journey “unimaginable”, “an adventure” which allows the club “to learn every day”. This Champions League, coveted by clubs from all over Europe, “will also teach us to grow, to know more about the high level”says the president of Stade Brestois.

The only difficulty that many clubs involved in a European competition encounter is playing on several fronts in one season. “We will not be able to triple the positions”warns Denis Le Saint. “The first desire is naturally to keep the club in Ligue 1. And then, the Champions League is for the shared happiness of all the people supporting Stade Brestois.”