"Do you have any info on the PSG team? "We are announcing the big team, I don't believe it. "Apparently, Neymar is in the group. As of breakfast, this Sunday morning, the assumptions were going well with the players of Linas-Montlhéry. The little disillusionment will fall in the early evening.
Mbappé, Neymar, Icardi and Navas stayed at home, Di Maria, Verratti and Marquinhos on the bench. Despite everything, most were not disappointed. “It's still a great team with experienced players like Paredes, Herrera, Sarabia, Draxler and Cavani, put their coach Stéphane Cabrelli in perspective one hour before kick-off. It's going to be complicated. "
On the contrary, his men were far from being ridiculous, standing up to the Parisians for a long time and missing the equalizer on penalty by Kanouté (40th). The miracle then passed, not the dream experienced by fans of Regional 1 (6th division). Leaving to go green at the national rugby center in Marcoussis since Saturday noon, they followed a preparation worthy of the pros.
In the morning, Cabrelli received a call for encouragement from Michel Denisot, the former president of PSG and from Châteauroux, where the Essonne coach was semi-professional in the 1980s. "I wholeheartedly support you", slipped the ex-journalist to the technician. Which had to go through a more painful exercise by announcing the bad news to the two unsuccessful players, Omar El Gachbour and Marc-Eddy Clément. He will later apologize to those concerned during his talk.
Having trouble falling asleep
When I woke up, the mines were already happy. "We were a little cold last night, the air conditioning was cut, but we are not going to complain," relativized Medhy Bathily ... plumber heating, before taking the direction of Montlhéry for the wishes of the mayor. The delegation was greeted on stage like a group of rock stars.
"Now we're going to have to go because you have a match to win," slipped the city official before returning to Marcoussis for lunch. "Oh the Brazilian! The second goalkeeper David Madureira has just appeared in the hall, just back from his vacation in Brazil.
It's time for a nap, saving so many have had trouble falling asleep. Always so relaxed, it is in music that the players arrive at the chat, almost without a look for OM pushed to the shots on goal by Trélissac.
"Play with the heart, and don't worry about the score"
In the XV de France living room, the coach plays on emotion. “Thank you because I'm not a lover of the cup, but of PSG, and it's a great gift. This is your chance to show yourself, for those who dream of becoming pros. No stress! What fun! Play with the heart, and don't worry about the score. Afraid of spanking? We will give you a room, but everyone wants to be in your place. The video on the exploits of the previous towers raises the hilarity.
Newsletter - The essentials of the news
Every morning, the news seen by Le ParisienI'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to allow you to receive our news and commercial offers. Find out more
The faces will start to close on arrival at the stadium, 2h30 before the match, and even more during the warm-up. "Guys, we don't change habits, we wear the equipment," loose Cabrelli, who is entitled to a warm tap on Tuchel's shoulder before kick-off.
At the break, he congratulated his troops. "We're looking to play, that's good, that's what I asked you. OK, we get banana ( sic ) on the penalty, but it's the very high level. Despite the scale of the score, the amateurs were up to the event. And they went out with their heads held high, stars in their eyes for the rest of their lives.