They hadn’t succeeded in 15 years. For the first time since the 2008 edition of the competition, the footballers of Amiens SC are in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France. After Guingamp (Ligue 2) in thirty-second, Linas-Montlhéry (Nationale 3) in sixteenth and Nancy (Ligue 2) in eighth, it is a benchmark in Ligue 1 that ASC will have to face. this Tuesday at 9 p.m.: AS Monaco. On the lawn of the Louis II stadium, once again away from their base, the Amiens will have to pull off the perfect match to believe in the feat and qualify for the semi-finals of the Coupe de France. Only Adama Diakhaby, on the start, is absent.
The declaration: “We have no pressure, she is on their side”
Confident Yohann Thuram? In any case, the ASC goalkeeper, usual substitute in the league but holder in the Cup wanted to be reassuring before going to the Principality to face AS Monaco. An absence of pressure shared by Amiens coach Philippe Hinschberger: “Apart from creating an achievement, I don’t see what we can do about this match. If you get eliminated, it will be completely normal and if you qualify, it will be great, historic.”
Philippe Hinschberger, however, remains realistic about the likelihood of a victory against a solid team of Monaco, winner this Saturday in Ligue 1 of Olympique Lyonnais (2-0) : “We’re not here to compete with Monaco, we don’t have the same means, we don’t have the same numbers, we don’t do the same job. You have to be aware of who you’re going to play.” Because the ASC coach knows what he is talking about, he who was eliminated last year with Grenoble by Monaco in the round of 16 of this same Coupe de France (1-0).
The player to watch: Aliou Badji, gentleman 7 out of 7
The Senegalese ASC striker, on loan since the start of the season from Egyptian club Al Ahly, is undeniably the man in form on the Picardy side. In the last seven Ligue 2 meetings, he has scored 7 goals, or one per game. The latest this Saturday in the draw against Sochaux, with the added bonus of a superb gesture. After a difficult start to the season and only one goal scored in September against Nîmes, Aliou Badji is the offensive weapon of the Amiens, recognized as such by the coach of Monaco, the Belgian Philippe Clément, who arrived at the beginning of January on the bench of the reds and White.
“If he can keep this performance regime, for us it’s all profit”recognizes his trainer Philippe Hinschberger. “He’s a guy who works hard and doesn’t give up, I’m very happy for him”, abounds his teammate Yohann Thuram. Facing Monaco, Aliou Badji may want to prove to observers that he is more than a good Ligue 2 player
The stat: 21 goals in 34 games
He is considered one of the best – if not the best – striker in Ligue 1. At 31, Monaco striker Wissam Ben Yedder is in the form of his life. His 21 goals in 34 games this season, in all competitions, proves it. “He turns anything into gold”said of him Philippe Hinschberger. “We are going to watch videos on him, of course”, recognizes Yohann Thuram. Especially since Wissam Ben Yedder, who has only 16 caps and 2 goals with the France team, is aiming for participation in the World Cup next November in Qatar. A victory in the Coupe de France with Monaco would help him. Amiens attackers are warned.