Asked about his memories of the Coupe de France at the very end of the press conference, midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin remembered the fantastic epic of Calais in 2000. A 4th division club which climbed to the final of the Coupe de France, after having released a Ligue 1 in a half (Bordeaux in this case), this is not really the scenario expected this Tuesday evening at the Alliance Riviera. “We want to shatter the dream of Versailles,“then dropped Morgan Schneiderlin, at the end of his speech, almost embarrassed by the formula.
“Since the first round, we tell ourselves that we want to go to the end.”
The Gym wants in any case avoid further disappointment after the League Cup semi-final lost to Vannes in 2009 at the Stade du Ray. “We know that the Cup is an incredible human adventure. Since the 1st round we tell ourselves that we want to go to the end,“says Schneiderlin, winner of the FA Cup with Manchester United in 2016. “It’s a moment that will remain engraved for life and I hope to relive it here in Nice.“
“It’s not a Cup match, it’s a semi-final!”
After leaving Paris and Marseille, the Gym is moving towards a final step before the Stade de France which seems less high but perhaps no less slippery, against a club capable of taking Toulouse out on their own turf and which have only been behind for a few minutes since the start of their Cup career. “If we want to pass, we will have to be at least at the same height in terms of state of mind and motivation,” urges Christophe Galtier. “It’s not a Coupe de France match, it’s a semi-final! It is quite another thing! It involves total behavior and investment“.
Stengs instead of Kluivert?
Deprived of Dante and Kluivert, expelled to Strasbourg, Galtier confirmed the maintenance in the goal of Marcin Bulka, holder since the start of the Cup adventure. And hinted that Calvin Stengs would replace his compatriot in attack. “It is most likely to start. We know the qualities of Calvin.”
Royal preparation for Versailles
Opposite the Versailles club will play with its weapons, which allow it to pass the Cup rounds (almost) without incident since the beginning of October and to dominate his National 2 hen. The Yvelines club has been able to prepare in the Clairefontaine facilities in recent days and arrives at the Allianz Riviera without complex. To the Rouge et Noir to turn off the light of Versailles to aim for the crown on May 8 at the Stade de France.