Brest is entering its fourth season in a row in the top flight, unheard of since the 1980s. Rather stable in nature, the Finistère club has not departed from the rule with a discreet but, at first glance, effective transfer window. What better way to aim than 11th place last year? Overview of the Brest forces, before the first match of the season in Lens, Sunday August 7 at 3 p.m.
The challenge: finally the top 10?
“It’s a club that always wants to do better than the previous season”, posed rookie Pierre Lees-Melou during his presentation to the press. Better than an eleventh place, it means the top 10. Is Brest armed to aim for this objective? “Unlike previous years, we are not forced to sell”whispered general manager Pascal Robert to West France. As for its competitors, the windfall provided by the CVC investment fund offers more latitude to Brest residents.
There was no question of madness on the transfer window. With a few adjustments, the workforce remained generally stable. “This year, I am hopeful that things will move faster”said coach Michel Der Zakarian. In a season of all dangers with four relegations, taking points quickly is imperative not to be stranded. Especially when Lens, Marseille and Rennes are on the program for the first five days.
The player to watch: Youcef Belaïli, more than a spring hit
His Brest freelance last spring was to be short-lived. Arrived last January, Youcef Belaïli (13 games, 3 goals last year) finally extended the pleasure in Finistère. The Algerian international, star in his country, showed the extent of his talent on the left flank of the attack after a period of adaptation. It will now be a question of being part of the long term.
Reengaged since July 10, the Fennec planted a friendly goal against Angers. He sees himself “score a lot of goals and provide assists”as he told West France. This player with a multiple offensive palette “likes to dribbles, to go inside with the ball, to win, to make decisive passes, to put on speed”. In the very free 4-4-2 of Der Zakarian, he will be one of the main attractions of the Brest season.
The rookie: Pierre Lees-Melou at the center of the debates
This summer, Lees-Melou landed from Norwich. A safe bet in Ligue 1, we saw him flourish there in Dijon then Nice. Relegated to the Championship this season, he was seduced by “ambitious project”. “We are not going to play for the first five places, but if there is a way to go higher, no one is going to get in the way”he breathed.
At 29, he should form a complementary double pivot with Haris Belkebla. “He will bring us a different technical touch”noted Michel der Zakarian, seduced by “his vision of the game”. In addition to Lees-Melou, Brest has enlisted Mathias Pereira Lage, at the end of the contract in Angers, who will bring more depth to the middle. The Englishman Karamoko Dembélé, star of Celtic’s young teams before struggling to break into the pros, will try to really launch his career in Brittany at 19 years old.
The typical XI:
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