Take a morning stroll along the stunning, sandy beach of Porz Liogan in Le Conquet, right at the westernmost tip of mainland France, and there’s every chance you might run into the captain of Champions League newcomers Brest. Especially if you’re out walking a four-legged friend.
“I come here every day with my dog,” explains Brendan Chardonnet, taking in the sea air on a pleasantly warm September ramble. “He enjoys it because, as you can see, there are other dogs here too. I’m here every morning before training or at lunchtime after training. I go to numerous other beaches too, because there are many beaches around here. But my dog gets to come to the beach every day.”
Don’t let that fool you, of course. The 29-year-old is just as smitten with the Brittany landscape as his canine pal, and in particular the picturesque fishing village where he set up home after signing his first professional contract. “Le Conquet is the last bit of land [on the west coast],” he says. “And in that direction is New York. You can’t do better than that. We’re at the land’s end and we’re happy to be here. It feels like being on holiday, even though it’s just our ordinary, daily life.”
For Chardonnet, this has been daily life for as long as he can remember. “I’ve loved the sea since I was little. I often go swimming in the sea, even when it’s 16C or 17C – or 18C, when it’s a real scorcher! I love it. We often go out on friends’ boats too. And I’ve done a bit of fishing with local anglers. Some of the players go fishing as well. There’s a group of four or five players who go fishing almost every day.”
No wonder this corner of the globe proves such a tourist draw, but for Chardonnet it is part of who he is. The centre-back was born in Saint-Renan, just a few kilometres northeast of Le Conquet, and aside from a season on loan at SAS Épinal, he has been a fixture at local club Brest since joining at Under-17 level. Now the team’s skipper and longest-serving player, he feels a powerful connection to the surrounding department of Finistère – literal meaning: Land’s End – and the wider Brittany region.
“We’re quite emotional people here. We’re fishermen and farmers, so sometimes we can be feisty”
“Be careful, because those are two different things,” he jokes. “People from Finistère are pretty territorial so, for us, Bretons who don’t come from Finistère aren’t really Bretons. Being from Brittany is about being proud of your region. We like to display that, and you’ll see Breton flags at events wherever you go. It’s about being proud of your roots because we’re out on a limb geographically. We’re a little removed from the rest of France. I think we’re quite emotional people. We have a lot of character. We’re fishermen and farmers, so sometimes we can be feisty.”
If that Breton pride is famous throughout France, the rest of Europe is now in for an education. With Chardonnet at the heart of their defence, Brest pulled off a remarkable feat last season, finishing third in Ligue 1 to earn a Champions League spot and their very first tilt at a UEFA competition. Nobody could have been more surprised than Chardonnet himself, who was asked by an interviewer in 2022 if he could ever imagine seeing Les Pirates on Europe’s biggest stage. “Sure, let’s give ourselves two years,” he quipped. “Really?” shot back the journalist. “No,” he laughed, amused by the seeming absurdity of the idea.
“No, not at all,” he says now, two years on from that tongue-in-cheek prediction, and with Brest having kicked off their debut campaign with wins against Sturm Graz and Salzburg. “When I joined the club’s U17s, I didn’t even think I’d go on to play professionally. I wasn’t looking at a career as a professional, let alone playing in the Champions League.” In fact, most Champions League nights in recent years have involved inviting friends round to watch games on TV, but now Chardonnet is in the thick of the action – and, in his own words, “a bundle of nerves”.
The draw has certainly upped the excitement levels in Brest, with Real Madrid and Barcelona among Les Pirates’ opponents. “We were very happy with Barça and Real,” says Chardonnet. “We will host Real, so for our fans, friends and families here, it’s going to be amazing – and for us too. As for travelling to Barcelona, even though we won’t be playing at the Camp Nou, it’s always epic. It could have been a worse draw!”
After a dream start, Brest are determined to make the most of their adventure. “We’re ready for anything and we’ll obviously try to win as many games as possible,” Chardonnet explains. “The fact that we’re the smallest underdogs doesn’t mean we’re not professional and competitive. Getting here means we’ve proved we have qualities, and we’re going to prove that again.”
Whatever happens, the club’s proud captain will be keeping his feet on the ground. And if he gets his way, that ground will continue to be here, in this idyllic outpost at the edge of the Atlantic, with his dog frolicking beside him in the sand. “I want to stay true to myself. I don’t see why I should change now just because I’ve reached the Champions League.”
Take a morning stroll along the stunning, sandy beach of Porz Liogan in Le Conquet, right at the westernmost tip of mainland France, and there’s every chance you might run into the captain of Champions League newcomers Brest. Especially if you’re out walking a four-legged friend.
“I come here every day with my dog,” explains Brendan Chardonnet, taking in the sea air on a pleasantly warm September ramble. “He enjoys it because, as you can see, there are other dogs here too. I’m here every morning before training or at lunchtime after training. I go to numerous other beaches too, because there are many beaches around here. But my dog gets to come to the beach every day.”
Don’t let that fool you, of course. The 29-year-old is just as smitten with the Brittany landscape as his canine pal, and in particular the picturesque fishing village where he set up home after signing his first professional contract. “Le Conquet is the last bit of land [on the west coast],” he says. “And in that direction is New York. You can’t do better than that. We’re at the land’s end and we’re happy to be here. It feels like being on holiday, even though it’s just our ordinary, daily life.”
For Chardonnet, this has been daily life for as long as he can remember. “I’ve loved the sea since I was little. I often go swimming in the sea, even when it’s 16C or 17C – or 18C, when it’s a real scorcher! I love it. We often go out on friends’ boats too. And I’ve done a bit of fishing with local anglers. Some of the players go fishing as well. There’s a group of four or five players who go fishing almost every day.”
No wonder this corner of the globe proves such a tourist draw, but for Chardonnet it is part of who he is. The centre-back was born in Saint-Renan, just a few kilometres northeast of Le Conquet, and aside from a season on loan at SAS Épinal, he has been a fixture at local club Brest since joining at Under-17 level. Now the team’s skipper and longest-serving player, he feels a powerful connection to the surrounding department of Finistère – literal meaning: Land’s End – and the wider Brittany region.
“We’re quite emotional people here. We’re fishermen and farmers, so sometimes we can be feisty”
“Be careful, because those are two different things,” he jokes. “People from Finistère are pretty territorial so, for us, Bretons who don’t come from Finistère aren’t really Bretons. Being from Brittany is about being proud of your region. We like to display that, and you’ll see Breton flags at events wherever you go. It’s about being proud of your roots because we’re out on a limb geographically. We’re a little removed from the rest of France. I think we’re quite emotional people. We have a lot of character. We’re fishermen and farmers, so sometimes we can be feisty.”
If that Breton pride is famous throughout France, the rest of Europe is now in for an education. With Chardonnet at the heart of their defence, Brest pulled off a remarkable feat last season, finishing third in Ligue 1 to earn a Champions League spot and their very first tilt at a UEFA competition. Nobody could have been more surprised than Chardonnet himself, who was asked by an interviewer in 2022 if he could ever imagine seeing Les Pirates on Europe’s biggest stage. “Sure, let’s give ourselves two years,” he quipped. “Really?” shot back the journalist. “No,” he laughed, amused by the seeming absurdity of the idea.
“No, not at all,” he says now, two years on from that tongue-in-cheek prediction, and with Brest having kicked off their debut campaign with wins against Sturm Graz and Salzburg. “When I joined the club’s U17s, I didn’t even think I’d go on to play professionally. I wasn’t looking at a career as a professional, let alone playing in the Champions League.” In fact, most Champions League nights in recent years have involved inviting friends round to watch games on TV, but now Chardonnet is in the thick of the action – and, in his own words, “a bundle of nerves”.
The draw has certainly upped the excitement levels in Brest, with Real Madrid and Barcelona among Les Pirates’ opponents. “We were very happy with Barça and Real,” says Chardonnet. “We will host Real, so for our fans, friends and families here, it’s going to be amazing – and for us too. As for travelling to Barcelona, even though we won’t be playing at the Camp Nou, it’s always epic. It could have been a worse draw!”
After a dream start, Brest are determined to make the most of their adventure. “We’re ready for anything and we’ll obviously try to win as many games as possible,” Chardonnet explains. “The fact that we’re the smallest underdogs doesn’t mean we’re not professional and competitive. Getting here means we’ve proved we have qualities, and we’re going to prove that again.”
Whatever happens, the club’s proud captain will be keeping his feet on the ground. And if he gets his way, that ground will continue to be here, in this idyllic outpost at the edge of the Atlantic, with his dog frolicking beside him in the sand. “I want to stay true to myself. I don’t see why I should change now just because I’ve reached the Champions League.”
Take a morning stroll along the stunning, sandy beach of Porz Liogan in Le Conquet, right at the westernmost tip of mainland France, and there’s every chance you might run into the captain of Champions League newcomers Brest. Especially if you’re out walking a four-legged friend.
“I come here every day with my dog,” explains Brendan Chardonnet, taking in the sea air on a pleasantly warm September ramble. “He enjoys it because, as you can see, there are other dogs here too. I’m here every morning before training or at lunchtime after training. I go to numerous other beaches too, because there are many beaches around here. But my dog gets to come to the beach every day.”
Don’t let that fool you, of course. The 29-year-old is just as smitten with the Brittany landscape as his canine pal, and in particular the picturesque fishing village where he set up home after signing his first professional contract. “Le Conquet is the last bit of land [on the west coast],” he says. “And in that direction is New York. You can’t do better than that. We’re at the land’s end and we’re happy to be here. It feels like being on holiday, even though it’s just our ordinary, daily life.”
For Chardonnet, this has been daily life for as long as he can remember. “I’ve loved the sea since I was little. I often go swimming in the sea, even when it’s 16C or 17C – or 18C, when it’s a real scorcher! I love it. We often go out on friends’ boats too. And I’ve done a bit of fishing with local anglers. Some of the players go fishing as well. There’s a group of four or five players who go fishing almost every day.”
No wonder this corner of the globe proves such a tourist draw, but for Chardonnet it is part of who he is. The centre-back was born in Saint-Renan, just a few kilometres northeast of Le Conquet, and aside from a season on loan at SAS Épinal, he has been a fixture at local club Brest since joining at Under-17 level. Now the team’s skipper and longest-serving player, he feels a powerful connection to the surrounding department of Finistère – literal meaning: Land’s End – and the wider Brittany region.
“We’re quite emotional people here. We’re fishermen and farmers, so sometimes we can be feisty”
“Be careful, because those are two different things,” he jokes. “People from Finistère are pretty territorial so, for us, Bretons who don’t come from Finistère aren’t really Bretons. Being from Brittany is about being proud of your region. We like to display that, and you’ll see Breton flags at events wherever you go. It’s about being proud of your roots because we’re out on a limb geographically. We’re a little removed from the rest of France. I think we’re quite emotional people. We have a lot of character. We’re fishermen and farmers, so sometimes we can be feisty.”
If that Breton pride is famous throughout France, the rest of Europe is now in for an education. With Chardonnet at the heart of their defence, Brest pulled off a remarkable feat last season, finishing third in Ligue 1 to earn a Champions League spot and their very first tilt at a UEFA competition. Nobody could have been more surprised than Chardonnet himself, who was asked by an interviewer in 2022 if he could ever imagine seeing Les Pirates on Europe’s biggest stage. “Sure, let’s give ourselves two years,” he quipped. “Really?” shot back the journalist. “No,” he laughed, amused by the seeming absurdity of the idea.
“No, not at all,” he says now, two years on from that tongue-in-cheek prediction, and with Brest having kicked off their debut campaign with wins against Sturm Graz and Salzburg. “When I joined the club’s U17s, I didn’t even think I’d go on to play professionally. I wasn’t looking at a career as a professional, let alone playing in the Champions League.” In fact, most Champions League nights in recent years have involved inviting friends round to watch games on TV, but now Chardonnet is in the thick of the action – and, in his own words, “a bundle of nerves”.
The draw has certainly upped the excitement levels in Brest, with Real Madrid and Barcelona among Les Pirates’ opponents. “We were very happy with Barça and Real,” says Chardonnet. “We will host Real, so for our fans, friends and families here, it’s going to be amazing – and for us too. As for travelling to Barcelona, even though we won’t be playing at the Camp Nou, it’s always epic. It could have been a worse draw!”
After a dream start, Brest are determined to make the most of their adventure. “We’re ready for anything and we’ll obviously try to win as many games as possible,” Chardonnet explains. “The fact that we’re the smallest underdogs doesn’t mean we’re not professional and competitive. Getting here means we’ve proved we have qualities, and we’re going to prove that again.”
Whatever happens, the club’s proud captain will be keeping his feet on the ground. And if he gets his way, that ground will continue to be here, in this idyllic outpost at the edge of the Atlantic, with his dog frolicking beside him in the sand. “I want to stay true to myself. I don’t see why I should change now just because I’ve reached the Champions League.”
Take a morning stroll along the stunning, sandy beach of Porz Liogan in Le Conquet, right at the westernmost tip of mainland France, and there’s every chance you might run into the captain of Champions League newcomers Brest. Especially if you’re out walking a four-legged friend.
“I come here every day with my dog,” explains Brendan Chardonnet, taking in the sea air on a pleasantly warm September ramble. “He enjoys it because, as you can see, there are other dogs here too. I’m here every morning before training or at lunchtime after training. I go to numerous other beaches too, because there are many beaches around here. But my dog gets to come to the beach every day.”
Don’t let that fool you, of course. The 29-year-old is just as smitten with the Brittany landscape as his canine pal, and in particular the picturesque fishing village where he set up home after signing his first professional contract. “Le Conquet is the last bit of land [on the west coast],” he says. “And in that direction is New York. You can’t do better than that. We’re at the land’s end and we’re happy to be here. It feels like being on holiday, even though it’s just our ordinary, daily life.”
For Chardonnet, this has been daily life for as long as he can remember. “I’ve loved the sea since I was little. I often go swimming in the sea, even when it’s 16C or 17C – or 18C, when it’s a real scorcher! I love it. We often go out on friends’ boats too. And I’ve done a bit of fishing with local anglers. Some of the players go fishing as well. There’s a group of four or five players who go fishing almost every day.”
No wonder this corner of the globe proves such a tourist draw, but for Chardonnet it is part of who he is. The centre-back was born in Saint-Renan, just a few kilometres northeast of Le Conquet, and aside from a season on loan at SAS Épinal, he has been a fixture at local club Brest since joining at Under-17 level. Now the team’s skipper and longest-serving player, he feels a powerful connection to the surrounding department of Finistère – literal meaning: Land’s End – and the wider Brittany region.
“We’re quite emotional people here. We’re fishermen and farmers, so sometimes we can be feisty”
“Be careful, because those are two different things,” he jokes. “People from Finistère are pretty territorial so, for us, Bretons who don’t come from Finistère aren’t really Bretons. Being from Brittany is about being proud of your region. We like to display that, and you’ll see Breton flags at events wherever you go. It’s about being proud of your roots because we’re out on a limb geographically. We’re a little removed from the rest of France. I think we’re quite emotional people. We have a lot of character. We’re fishermen and farmers, so sometimes we can be feisty.”
If that Breton pride is famous throughout France, the rest of Europe is now in for an education. With Chardonnet at the heart of their defence, Brest pulled off a remarkable feat last season, finishing third in Ligue 1 to earn a Champions League spot and their very first tilt at a UEFA competition. Nobody could have been more surprised than Chardonnet himself, who was asked by an interviewer in 2022 if he could ever imagine seeing Les Pirates on Europe’s biggest stage. “Sure, let’s give ourselves two years,” he quipped. “Really?” shot back the journalist. “No,” he laughed, amused by the seeming absurdity of the idea.
“No, not at all,” he says now, two years on from that tongue-in-cheek prediction, and with Brest having kicked off their debut campaign with wins against Sturm Graz and Salzburg. “When I joined the club’s U17s, I didn’t even think I’d go on to play professionally. I wasn’t looking at a career as a professional, let alone playing in the Champions League.” In fact, most Champions League nights in recent years have involved inviting friends round to watch games on TV, but now Chardonnet is in the thick of the action – and, in his own words, “a bundle of nerves”.
The draw has certainly upped the excitement levels in Brest, with Real Madrid and Barcelona among Les Pirates’ opponents. “We were very happy with Barça and Real,” says Chardonnet. “We will host Real, so for our fans, friends and families here, it’s going to be amazing – and for us too. As for travelling to Barcelona, even though we won’t be playing at the Camp Nou, it’s always epic. It could have been a worse draw!”
After a dream start, Brest are determined to make the most of their adventure. “We’re ready for anything and we’ll obviously try to win as many games as possible,” Chardonnet explains. “The fact that we’re the smallest underdogs doesn’t mean we’re not professional and competitive. Getting here means we’ve proved we have qualities, and we’re going to prove that again.”
Whatever happens, the club’s proud captain will be keeping his feet on the ground. And if he gets his way, that ground will continue to be here, in this idyllic outpost at the edge of the Atlantic, with his dog frolicking beside him in the sand. “I want to stay true to myself. I don’t see why I should change now just because I’ve reached the Champions League.”
Take a morning stroll along the stunning, sandy beach of Porz Liogan in Le Conquet, right at the westernmost tip of mainland France, and there’s every chance you might run into the captain of Champions League newcomers Brest. Especially if you’re out walking a four-legged friend.
“I come here every day with my dog,” explains Brendan Chardonnet, taking in the sea air on a pleasantly warm September ramble. “He enjoys it because, as you can see, there are other dogs here too. I’m here every morning before training or at lunchtime after training. I go to numerous other beaches too, because there are many beaches around here. But my dog gets to come to the beach every day.”
Don’t let that fool you, of course. The 29-year-old is just as smitten with the Brittany landscape as his canine pal, and in particular the picturesque fishing village where he set up home after signing his first professional contract. “Le Conquet is the last bit of land [on the west coast],” he says. “And in that direction is New York. You can’t do better than that. We’re at the land’s end and we’re happy to be here. It feels like being on holiday, even though it’s just our ordinary, daily life.”
For Chardonnet, this has been daily life for as long as he can remember. “I’ve loved the sea since I was little. I often go swimming in the sea, even when it’s 16C or 17C – or 18C, when it’s a real scorcher! I love it. We often go out on friends’ boats too. And I’ve done a bit of fishing with local anglers. Some of the players go fishing as well. There’s a group of four or five players who go fishing almost every day.”
No wonder this corner of the globe proves such a tourist draw, but for Chardonnet it is part of who he is. The centre-back was born in Saint-Renan, just a few kilometres northeast of Le Conquet, and aside from a season on loan at SAS Épinal, he has been a fixture at local club Brest since joining at Under-17 level. Now the team’s skipper and longest-serving player, he feels a powerful connection to the surrounding department of Finistère – literal meaning: Land’s End – and the wider Brittany region.
“We’re quite emotional people here. We’re fishermen and farmers, so sometimes we can be feisty”
“Be careful, because those are two different things,” he jokes. “People from Finistère are pretty territorial so, for us, Bretons who don’t come from Finistère aren’t really Bretons. Being from Brittany is about being proud of your region. We like to display that, and you’ll see Breton flags at events wherever you go. It’s about being proud of your roots because we’re out on a limb geographically. We’re a little removed from the rest of France. I think we’re quite emotional people. We have a lot of character. We’re fishermen and farmers, so sometimes we can be feisty.”
If that Breton pride is famous throughout France, the rest of Europe is now in for an education. With Chardonnet at the heart of their defence, Brest pulled off a remarkable feat last season, finishing third in Ligue 1 to earn a Champions League spot and their very first tilt at a UEFA competition. Nobody could have been more surprised than Chardonnet himself, who was asked by an interviewer in 2022 if he could ever imagine seeing Les Pirates on Europe’s biggest stage. “Sure, let’s give ourselves two years,” he quipped. “Really?” shot back the journalist. “No,” he laughed, amused by the seeming absurdity of the idea.
“No, not at all,” he says now, two years on from that tongue-in-cheek prediction, and with Brest having kicked off their debut campaign with wins against Sturm Graz and Salzburg. “When I joined the club’s U17s, I didn’t even think I’d go on to play professionally. I wasn’t looking at a career as a professional, let alone playing in the Champions League.” In fact, most Champions League nights in recent years have involved inviting friends round to watch games on TV, but now Chardonnet is in the thick of the action – and, in his own words, “a bundle of nerves”.
The draw has certainly upped the excitement levels in Brest, with Real Madrid and Barcelona among Les Pirates’ opponents. “We were very happy with Barça and Real,” says Chardonnet. “We will host Real, so for our fans, friends and families here, it’s going to be amazing – and for us too. As for travelling to Barcelona, even though we won’t be playing at the Camp Nou, it’s always epic. It could have been a worse draw!”
After a dream start, Brest are determined to make the most of their adventure. “We’re ready for anything and we’ll obviously try to win as many games as possible,” Chardonnet explains. “The fact that we’re the smallest underdogs doesn’t mean we’re not professional and competitive. Getting here means we’ve proved we have qualities, and we’re going to prove that again.”
Whatever happens, the club’s proud captain will be keeping his feet on the ground. And if he gets his way, that ground will continue to be here, in this idyllic outpost at the edge of the Atlantic, with his dog frolicking beside him in the sand. “I want to stay true to myself. I don’t see why I should change now just because I’ve reached the Champions League.”
Take a morning stroll along the stunning, sandy beach of Porz Liogan in Le Conquet, right at the westernmost tip of mainland France, and there’s every chance you might run into the captain of Champions League newcomers Brest. Especially if you’re out walking a four-legged friend.
“I come here every day with my dog,” explains Brendan Chardonnet, taking in the sea air on a pleasantly warm September ramble. “He enjoys it because, as you can see, there are other dogs here too. I’m here every morning before training or at lunchtime after training. I go to numerous other beaches too, because there are many beaches around here. But my dog gets to come to the beach every day.”
Don’t let that fool you, of course. The 29-year-old is just as smitten with the Brittany landscape as his canine pal, and in particular the picturesque fishing village where he set up home after signing his first professional contract. “Le Conquet is the last bit of land [on the west coast],” he says. “And in that direction is New York. You can’t do better than that. We’re at the land’s end and we’re happy to be here. It feels like being on holiday, even though it’s just our ordinary, daily life.”
For Chardonnet, this has been daily life for as long as he can remember. “I’ve loved the sea since I was little. I often go swimming in the sea, even when it’s 16C or 17C – or 18C, when it’s a real scorcher! I love it. We often go out on friends’ boats too. And I’ve done a bit of fishing with local anglers. Some of the players go fishing as well. There’s a group of four or five players who go fishing almost every day.”
No wonder this corner of the globe proves such a tourist draw, but for Chardonnet it is part of who he is. The centre-back was born in Saint-Renan, just a few kilometres northeast of Le Conquet, and aside from a season on loan at SAS Épinal, he has been a fixture at local club Brest since joining at Under-17 level. Now the team’s skipper and longest-serving player, he feels a powerful connection to the surrounding department of Finistère – literal meaning: Land’s End – and the wider Brittany region.
“We’re quite emotional people here. We’re fishermen and farmers, so sometimes we can be feisty”
“Be careful, because those are two different things,” he jokes. “People from Finistère are pretty territorial so, for us, Bretons who don’t come from Finistère aren’t really Bretons. Being from Brittany is about being proud of your region. We like to display that, and you’ll see Breton flags at events wherever you go. It’s about being proud of your roots because we’re out on a limb geographically. We’re a little removed from the rest of France. I think we’re quite emotional people. We have a lot of character. We’re fishermen and farmers, so sometimes we can be feisty.”
If that Breton pride is famous throughout France, the rest of Europe is now in for an education. With Chardonnet at the heart of their defence, Brest pulled off a remarkable feat last season, finishing third in Ligue 1 to earn a Champions League spot and their very first tilt at a UEFA competition. Nobody could have been more surprised than Chardonnet himself, who was asked by an interviewer in 2022 if he could ever imagine seeing Les Pirates on Europe’s biggest stage. “Sure, let’s give ourselves two years,” he quipped. “Really?” shot back the journalist. “No,” he laughed, amused by the seeming absurdity of the idea.
“No, not at all,” he says now, two years on from that tongue-in-cheek prediction, and with Brest having kicked off their debut campaign with wins against Sturm Graz and Salzburg. “When I joined the club’s U17s, I didn’t even think I’d go on to play professionally. I wasn’t looking at a career as a professional, let alone playing in the Champions League.” In fact, most Champions League nights in recent years have involved inviting friends round to watch games on TV, but now Chardonnet is in the thick of the action – and, in his own words, “a bundle of nerves”.
The draw has certainly upped the excitement levels in Brest, with Real Madrid and Barcelona among Les Pirates’ opponents. “We were very happy with Barça and Real,” says Chardonnet. “We will host Real, so for our fans, friends and families here, it’s going to be amazing – and for us too. As for travelling to Barcelona, even though we won’t be playing at the Camp Nou, it’s always epic. It could have been a worse draw!”
After a dream start, Brest are determined to make the most of their adventure. “We’re ready for anything and we’ll obviously try to win as many games as possible,” Chardonnet explains. “The fact that we’re the smallest underdogs doesn’t mean we’re not professional and competitive. Getting here means we’ve proved we have qualities, and we’re going to prove that again.”
Whatever happens, the club’s proud captain will be keeping his feet on the ground. And if he gets his way, that ground will continue to be here, in this idyllic outpost at the edge of the Atlantic, with his dog frolicking beside him in the sand. “I want to stay true to myself. I don’t see why I should change now just because I’ve reached the Champions League.”
