Ligue 1 Review | Strasbourg out of the woods in first season under BlueCo ownership

Cautious optimism was the feeling that surrounded Patrick Viera and his management staff after RC Strasbourg Alsace’s victory over Stade de Reims on the weekend. “ I’m not saying to myself that it means we’re staying up ,” Vieira cooled after he watched Ligue 1’s second-youngest side come from behind to win 3-1 in front of a jubilant Stade de la Meinau. 

While the former World Cup winner would prefer to wait for safety to become a mathematical certainty before celebrating a job well done, the fans began the party early on Saturday afternoon as relegation became a distant threat with ten points separating them and third-bottom FC Lorient with only five games of the season remaining. 

Performances on the pitch have shown the promise of a team that over the summer became committed to a new direction that has pushed youth to the front and centre of their club operations. There have of course been tough moments with a young side that has occasionally strayed into inconsistency and the status of the owners remains an existential subject in the East of France, but there have also been encouraging signs that have underscored that these could be exciting times for Strasbourg. 

When BlueCo bought Strasbourg last June there were immediate concerns over the future of the club from the team’s support. This was a proud side with a deep history and a unique connection to an area of France that has little other representation in sport, and to the horror of its supporters, it was about to become the junior partner to Chelsea in a multi-club model that it would have no say in. 

These concerns have flared up consistently throughout the season as the fans attempt to come to terms with and understand a new reality that places the needs of