At the end of February, Bastia enjoyed relatively comfortable weather by French standards.
While Bastia was preparing at ho for their next league match against Nice, Julien found ti to et with Pierre and his older brother René, mainly to discuss building the new website.
René sat in a seaside café, watching the diterranean waves crash rhythmically against the shore. He felt his own life was just like those waves—never to be calm again.
His father Pierre had already told René much about Julien's vision for the website.
René felt that his previously peaceful life was finally experiencing a storm, just like the waves.
"Of course, I'm very willing. Everything Julien has proposed is incredibly attractive. I'm well aware that Julien naturally possesses top-tier influence.
Just imagine—if in the future, Julien and his teammates and friends could publish information about transfers, injuries, and so on our website first, what kind of traffic would that bring us! In today's internet world, traffic equals money! We could attract advertising investnts from nurous companies."
Listening to René's words, Julien nodded. At least his brother was definitely not soone behind the tis. He could tell René was actively embracing the coming information age.
He just lacked an opportunity. And now, he was willing to give his family that opportunity.
Julien said, "Good, then you should move quickly on this. Try to get the website up and running within a month, and test it yourself to make sure there are no problems. Perhaps in May or June, we'll need to officially launch.
As for the money, we'll register a company—consider it our family business. This might just be our starting point; we can expand into other ventures later. I'll inject startup capital, but I need your help."
René nodded, his eyes burning with desire. He wanted to accomplish sothing great!
As an older brother, he sotis felt envious watching Julien's shining monts.
Although he couldn't play football, he could prove his worth to the family.
This website was that opportunity.
"I'll do it well! I've already decided to quit my job and dedicate myself fully to helping you with this!"
Julien smiled. "No, brother, this isn't helping —this is for all of us! This is our family's enterprise."
Pierre also smiled. "Yes, let's not divide things up so much. Doing our work well is the greatest help to the family."
Julien continued, "Don't worry, this website will definitely succeed. You don't need to feel too much pressure. Its innovation lies in absolute control and authenticity.
Imagine this: when a player stands at the penalty spot, his hands are shaking, his stomach is churning, and ten thousand thoughts flash through his mind—his family's faces, the coach's instructions, the regret of his last miss. Television won't broadcast these things, and reporters certainly can't know them.
But now, he can pick up a pen—or speak to a cara—right here, on our platform, and share that mont's fear, determination, even vulnerability, in his own words, completely under his own control.
This website will beco the center of the storm.
Think about it—when the next transfer window opens, instead of reporters waiting at doors chasing rumors, players themselves will announce directly on our platform where they're going.
Like the kickoff at Camp Nou, the Bernabéu, or Old Trafford—the whole world will be listening!
Fans will go crazy, dia will chase the stories, and all the traffic will converge on us.
This exclusivity, this influence and attention—that's value!"
Julien's speech made both Pierre and René's blood boil. This looked like a project with a truly bright future.
However, René still asked, "This is indeed an exciting future, but I have one concern—why wouldn't others copy our model? And would players really be willing to share these things? They're used to letting agents or press officers speak."
Julien looked at René. "You've asked a good question, but copying a website is easy—copying trust is impossible.
We're the first. We'll establish a kind of credibility, a purity, like the most prestigious club badges, symbolizing 'here is only the players' most authentic voice.'
Think about it—why are so brands worth fortunes? Because they were first to define a certain field.
We're becoming the definers of 'authentic player narratives' in the sports world.
As for the players, who understands the locker room better than ? Who understands players better?"
"Hahaha."
Both n laughed. Yes, that was their greatest advantage!
With a top star like Julien at the helm, how could they worry about recognition?
Julien checked the ti. "Alright, I have training in an hour. That's it for now. I'll transfer the money to Pierre soon."
He looked at Pierre. "Put the transfer matter on hold for now. I still need to carefully consider what kind of team is more suitable for . For now, focus on the website."
He paused, then said, "When the ti cos, I'll be the first to post information about my transfer on this website. The first letter—I'll write it."
"Good!"
Both Pierre and René nodded.
René continued asking, "So what should we call our website?"
Without hesitation, Julien said, "The Players' Tribune."
Hearing this na, Pierre and René's eyes lit up. 'Great na!'
It perfectly fit the website's positioning.
After giving the two n so additional instructions, Julien rushed back to the Bastia training ground. After two days of rest, the team was starting formal training.
Tomorrow evening, they would face Nice at ho.
Although they currently led PSG by ten points in the league, the pressure remained imnse. The best outco would be to keep winning.
During training, Julien chatted with De Bruyne. "Interested in writing a personal letter?"
De Bruyne frowned. "A personal letter?"
"Yes, like what I wrote in the newspaper before, but now publishing it online," Julien explained.
De Bruyne thought for a mont. "But I don't know what to write."
Julien shrugged. "When you want to write sothing, find . I'll publish it and give you top-tier paynt."
De Bruyne smiled. "What? Did you sign a cooperation agreent with so dia? If it's your request, I don't need money."
Julien put his arm around De Bruyne. "Co on, back to training. Tomorrow night's match, another ho ga—we must win!"
"Alright."
The next day was a Ligue 1 match day.
Stade Armand Cesari, as always, beca the most passionate and boiling area in all of Bastia.
The final result of this match aligned with the deepest desires of Bastia fans.
They won!
Ho victory 3-1 over Nice. Julien, who ca on as a substitute in the second half, scored twice, helping the team definitively secure the victory.
At the sa ti, he scored his 40th goal in his first top-level league professional career—a milestone!
When he scored the second goal, all the Bastia fans in the stadium chanted his na.
This was legendary statistics, this was a legendary na!
All belonging to Bastia!
Van Dijk's handball in the penalty area in the final monts, resulting in a penalty, was unimportant.
Regarding this match, Hadzibegic said in a post-match interview with a shrug, "I originally wanted to let Julien rest for a match, but when we couldn't pull away with the score, he was eager to co on. Julien's heart is that of a warrior, a warrior pursuing victory."
This failed rotation for Julien finally resulted in complete rest at the end of the month in the away match against Troyes.
Troyes currently ranked in the relegation zone; their strength was far inferior to Bastia's.
With Julien, De Bruyne, and Lukaku all rested, Bastia still won 2-0 away.
On the contrary, PSG, in the 26th round away match against Sochaux, shockingly lost 2-3!
Thus, the gap between PSG and Bastia had widened to an astonishing 13 points!
After the loss extended the point gap to an alarming 13 points, Ancelotti partly attributed the defeat to "the players being too tired. We played a full six matches in February, with an international break in between."
These words imdiately caused a huge reaction on Corsica!
Bastia dia precisely dug up the "old accounts" from less than half a month ago—
Ancelotti now complains that "six February matches international break" caused fatigue and defeat?
Then:
Who refused a reasonable postponent request from an opponent equally crushed by the schedule during that sa devil February?
Who, in the sa month they refused the postponent, was thoroughly beaten at ho by this "exhausted team"?
And who, after enjoying "schedule integrity," now shouts "too tired" when facing their own congested fixtures?
When PSG refused the postponent, they championed 'professional response, maintaining image.' Now facing dense scheduling themselves, they trot out the 'fatigue defeat theory'! This double standard has beco the perfect irony of Paris's championship incompetence!
Bastia, under even more extre multi-competition travel exhaustion—Europa League league consecutive away matches—didn't make excuses and still defeated PSG!
Now PSG rely complains about 'six February matches international break' as the reason for losing to a relegation-battling team?
This exposes perhaps not a scheduling problem, but a stark difference in team resilience and ntality!
The most direct manifestation of this ntality gap is that insurmountable—13 points!
The league table, silent, yet speaks volus.
The 'bitter fruit' of refusing postponent has finally been repaid in PSG's own point deficit.
Facing these reports, fans of other French teams disgusted by PSG's oil money football all chid in.
"Ancelotti complaining about six February matches? That's Hilarious!
Look at Bastia's February schedule: two Europa League knockout rounds away to PSG! They also had six matches!
What did they say? They kicked you down with their feet!
That's football! Not relying on a checkbook!"
"When PSG refused the postponent, they surely thought Bastia was a 'minor nuisance.'
Now?
This 'minor nuisance' has beco an obstacle you can't overco in your title race!
Twelve rounds left with a 13-point gap!
Hahaha, It's sooo satisfying!"
"Support Bastia! This is what French football should look like!
Passion, unity, never giving up!
Not relying on poaching stars from other teams to pile up a 'super fleet' with no foundation!
They can buy stars with money, but they can't buy a team with real cohesion and fighting spirit.
Look at Bastia, look at their De Rocca, Kanté, Van Dijk—that's football!"
Many external dia were already treating Bastia like last season's Montpellier.
They proclaid "PSG's championship dreams will always be shattered by a dark horse team that's never won Ligue 1!"
However, facing these comnts, while so within Bastia might be getting carried away, Hadzibegic, Chataigner, and other high-level figures remained realistic.
Who didn't want to win the championship?
But—
"The pressure of fighting on two fronts is the Sword of Damocles hanging over our heads. Every Europa League match is a tough battle; every league point is crucial. Our squad depth is limited—that's reality.
This ans smaller rotation space, greater consumption for everyone, and the shadow of injury could strike at any ti.
Every upcoming match will be the ultimate test of our physical limits and ntal resilience.
One misstep, and our huge advantage could vanish in just a few rounds.
However, I'm telling you this not to create panic, but to ignite the clarity and fighting spirit in our bones!
Throughout our journey, when have we not been underestimated?
Which tough battle didn't we fight through under pressure? From Paris to London, from doubt to amazent, what did we rely on?
Our absolute hunger for victory, the rewards each person earned by giving their all!"
Before preparing for the first match in March—the Corsican derby—Chataigner told the players.
Hadzibegic also chid in from the side. "Everyone must rest well. Your health is our guarantee of going all the way. There are three months left. Whether we can create history depends on these final three months."
Julien nodded repeatedly as he listened.
He was now very worried about the team's injury problems, mainly on the defensive line.
The pressure was truly imnse.
Fortunately, the current Corsican derby was no longer a real threat to Bastia.
Ajaccio's poor performance this season left them on the relegation edge.
Playing at Stade Armand Cesari at ho, Hadzibegic boldly initiated super rotation this ti!
Only Julien, De Bruyne, and Lukaku played among the main players—these were the players rested in the previous match. The other players were basically rotation players.
Relying on Julien's two solo runs in the first half, the team successfully won this match 2-1 with low cost and so nerve-wracking monts.
After the match, Hadzibegic said in an interview, "I've failed before, so I know that sotis failure cos just when you think victory is near. We won't think about distant matters now. We focus on each match."
"Now, we need to prepare for the match in Italy in three days."
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