After being an emblematic Saint-Etienne player in the 1970s, Dominique Rocheteau marked the 1980s for PSG, scoring more than 100 goals in seven seasons. The former leader of the Greens, retired for a year and who currently organizes football courses for young people in Royan (Charente-Maritime), launches the prestigious meeting between the two great clubs of his career, which he will attend at the Stade from France, this Friday evening at 9:10 p.m.
Is this Coupe de France final ideal for getting back to football?
DOMINIQUE ROCHETEAU. In my eyes, yes, that's for sure, it's the best poster to restart. Now, like everyone else, I find it very frustrating to see a final with almost no audience. I watched a lot of English, Italian and Spanish matches and even though I love football, it's different.
Did you miss football during those four months?
We had other concerns and we still have them now. Even if we are passionate, football goes well after all that and it's difficult to talk about lack, it would be inappropriate.
Does this PSG-Saint-Etienne shock remain the opposition between two worlds?
The difference in identity will be erased by this game behind closed doors. A popular club that will play without an audience, it will be a big lack, even if PSG also has an audience that follows it everywhere. In 2013, when we played the final of the Coupe de la Ligue (Editor's note: 1-0 victory against Rennes) , the spectacle of the Saint-Etienne supporters was fabulous. There, they will be two clubs, with a great history, but in a match that will lack flavor. It is frustrating and regrettable.
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Does the cut make the result more uncertain?
We are in a bit of the unknown. There is more suspense, even if the big favorite is PSG. In the championships that have resumed, some teams have shown themselves, like Manchester United, and others have plunged. Saint-Etienne had to prepare specially for this final, while PSG have other goals later. On the talent and the value of each player, PSG is superior, but the preparation, the mental aspect and the physical commitment will also play a role.
It's a revenge of the 1982 final, very special for you, since you had equalized during extra time before winning on penalties with PSG…
I didn't have the feeling that the Stéphanois could blame me, but it was a bit the case. Obviously, my feelings were mixed, because it was my home club and I had a lot of friends in the team opposite, but I had the PSG jersey. It had been a bit hard for Michel Platini, whose last match was in Saint-Etienne and who had scored his two goals. We talked about it again a few days later at the meeting of the France team where there were a lot of Stéphanois. I got a lot of room. But we had the Cup.
Are you more identified as Stéphanois or as Parisian?
These are my two clubs, but when people come to see me, I am “the Green Angel”, I represent Saint-Etienne. They zap PSG quite a bit. When I go to Paris, people talk to me more about it, but in the provinces, it's Saint-Etienne. While I still spent 7 years in Paris and scored 100 goals there.
