FC Versailles, who will challenge Bergerac in Périgueux, is one victory away (in regulation time or during the penalty shootout) from a historic qualification for the last square of the French Cup. But, since the beginning of their epic in the competition, the message of the Versaillais is clear: priority to the National 2 championship where the Yvelines club, which occupies the lead with five lengths ahead of Châteaubriant (the 2nd amateur club), clearly aims for a National championship.
Despite this speech, it is difficult not to fully experience this beautiful adventure in the Coupe de France, extremely rare for an amateur team. To be able to reconcile high ambitions in the league and achieve a big run in the Cup is, however, far from obvious. Diego Michel, the attacking midfielder of Versailles, had the bitter experience last season with Red Star (National).
He had first been the hero by scoring one of the goals once morest Lens during the feat (3-2) of the Audonians in the 32nd final before missing his shot on goal once morest Olympique Lyonnais (2-2 and 4-5 in the T.a.b.) in the 8th final. “I had felt an intense joy at the time of my goal once morest Lens, says the Breton who arrived in Versailles this summer. Often something special happens in this competition. It makes all amateur players dream. »
In the league, Red Star was aiming for a return to Ligue 2. Third at the halfway point behind Bastia and Quevilly-Rouen, the centenary club then collapsed during the return matches with only 3 successes in 18 meetings and a 7th place to the key. The profligacy of energy expended in the Coupe de France is a well-found explanation.
“There are several of them,” says former world champion teammate Ousmane Dembele at the Stade Rennais training centre. We mostly lacked concentration in the league. We had a lot of late games that we didn’t win in the end and it just kind of clicked in our heads. Psychological fatigue also played a little. Our opponents were waiting for us more than before the epic and wanted to fight. But, most of all, we had a worse shot, unfortunately, and we mightn’t get back up the slope. »
Does the unfortunate experience with Red Star serve him well this season when his team has to manage the ambition of a rise to the next level and an epic (for the moment) to the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France? For the first time this season, FC Versailles will play its Cup match on weekdays, this Wednesday, in Périgueux (Dordogne) once morest FC Bergerac (N2) for a duel of Little Thumbs.
“We have to let go, we have everything to win”
Four days before, the Versaillais were held in check at home once morest the reserve of Guingamp (1-1) and, this Saturday, they will travel to Poissy on behalf of the 18th day of N2. “I’ve discussed it with my team-mates but we’re smart enough to do our part,” he said. We know what we have to do and what we want to do. The Cut is a bonus. We have to let go, we have everything to win. »
“It makes me even more aware to have an experienced player who had to reconcile the championship and the cup,” said coach Youssef Chibhi. They know the top priority is the championship. The difficulty is to play three games this week, including the one in the middle that will be emotionally strong and where we will draw strength. But the Cup allowed us to maintain a rhythm of meetings during the winter break (32nd and 16th finals) and to resume the championship well in January. »
A rise in the National or a victory in the Coupe de France: to choose, what would Diego Michel prefer? “It’s very difficult to answer because it would be great to be able to do the double,” he said. But I would say the accession to the National. “We’re not sure we believe it…
