The Icaunais will favor the championship and should call on the usual replacements.
Francis Graille, the former Pdt de l’Aja, now administrator at the club, was also the owner, the co-president and then the president of the Lille club between 1999 and 2002.
He gives us his analysis on the eve of the meeting.
France Bleu Auxerre: The reigning French champion is necessarily a big chunk for AJA …
Francis graille : Yes it’s a big big hunk! Reigning French champion who finished first in his group in the Champions League.
But in the Coupe de France, the little thumbs often win victories against the ogres. So everything is possible for the Aja.
A seemingly unbalanced match …
Yes on paper, but I remember that in 2018 we went to Nantes under identical conditions, the young people of Aja had imposed themselves there. Everything will depend on the start of the match.
Lille wants to play the cup at 300% when Auxerre favors the championship, is there debate?
No there is no debate, the objective remains the championship, there is one day left to win the title of autumn champion. You have to do everything to go up this year.
In any case, the Coupe de France is doing quite well for the Auxerre, who have won it four times already. Lille also won it many times.
If there was a defeat, it shouldn’t be too difficult an elimination. We should not break the momentum and this dynamic that exists today. You have to go there with enthusiasm. Everything is possible.
Between Lille and Aja for whom your heart balances?
There is no photo, I am 100% auxerrois. I stayed close to the Aja group. Lille and Auxerre are close with double-championship titles.
But there are big differences between the clubs, Lille has modernized with a new splendid stadium in a huge regional capital. The population pools are very different.
Do you think this is the year of the rise for the Aja?
We can only wish it. We are behind the Aja who has made us vibrate since the start of the season. There is the return of the public who feel that the club needs it.
There is a great dynamic that should not be broken. We believe in. The climb is imperative this year.