Hugo Magnetti on Brest's Champions League journey: "We’re here to compete."

Brest made their debut in the UEFA Champions League with a win against Austrian side Sturm Graz. 26-year-old midfielder Hugo Magnetti scored the club's first-ever goal in the competition. With bruised legs after a tough training session, the Marseille native is still in disbelief at Brest's remarkable rise. "It's crazy! Two or three years ago, no one would have bet a penny on us making it here," he laughs, recalling how his summer holidays in Marseille were filled with talks about Europe's biggest football competition.

A Childhood Fueled by Champions League Dreams

Growing up in Marseille, Magnetti was constantly surrounded by memories of his hometown club's legendary 1993 Champions League triumph. While born five years after that historic victory, he knows the Marseille squad by heart: "Barthez, Desailly, Angloma, Di Meco, Boli, Deschamps, Pelé, Völler... Boksic, of course!" The midfielder fondly recounts nights spent helping with tifos at the Stade Vélodrome and sneaking to watch Champions League games with his brother, despite being forbidden from staying up late.

"That atmosphere after an OM win in Europe—it’s magical," he reminisces. His passion for the tournament didn’t stop with Marseille, either. From wearing an Iniesta shirt as a kid to watching Ronaldinho light up the San Siro, the Champions League has always been close to his heart.

Facing Giants in Europe

Now, Magnetti is set to face the kind of clubs he once only watched on TV—Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, and PSV Eindhoven. "We’re playing two of the biggest monsters in football history," he grins, acknowledging the challenge that lies ahead. But Brest are not approaching this campaign as star-struck novices. "On paper, we may look like the underdogs, but on the pitch, we’ll show our teeth. Last season, no one saw us finishing in the top three. Why can't we aim to be in the top 24 in the Champions League?"

Prepared for the Challenge

To prepare for the gruelling schedule, Brest have already tested themselves against top opposition like Napoli and Juventus in pre-season. "It’s tough, but if we maintain good habits, it becomes easier," says Magnetti, who has also adopted a stricter diet, cutting out sweets like his beloved Tagada candies.

Magnetti is under no illusions about the level of competition. "We’ve seen Lens take six goals from Arsenal last year, and we’ve had our fair share of heavy defeats," he acknowledges. But the confidence is palpable. "We know we’ve earned our place. No one can take that away from us."

Not Just Happy to Be There

While Magnetti is realistic about Brest’s odds, he refuses to settle for just participating. "We’re not here to say, ‘Oh, it’s a beautiful story.’ We’re here to compete. Two wins in this group would be a success—that’s six points, and with that, we could be proud of ourselves."

When asked what would happen if Brest beat Real Madrid, Magnetti’s response is typical of his grounded outlook: "It wouldn’t mean much if we’re eliminated afterward. But it would still be a David versus Goliath moment."

Brest might be playing giants, but Hugo Magnetti is determined to make sure they don’t play like the little guy.

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