The final struggle. Or rather, the final struggles. Four days before the end of the season in Ligue 1, AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain have an appointment at the Stade de France this Wednesday (9.15 p.m.), for the 104th final of the Coupe de France, the third between the two teams after 1985 and 2010. "We have two finals to play", insists the Parisian captain, Marquinhos, evoking a "title which would be very important for (him and his teammates) this year". And for good reason, PSG is anything but certain to take control of the championship. In fact, the Rouge et Bleu are even in an unfavorable waiver before their trip to Brest on Sunday, during the 38th day, knowing that Lille is in the driver's seat in the standings.
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“We know the importance of the week, but we have already won the Champions Trophy, remembers the Brazilian international, just 27 years old. The Coupe de la Ligue is no longer there, unfortunately, although it was a competition in which we have often been present. Now is not the time to take stock of the season. The season will be decided in the last two matches. ” In fact, PSG's season is still largely judged on the Champions League course. And Mauricio Pochettino's players can congratulate themselves on having reached the last four. As frustrating as it is satisfying, but enough in any case not to say that a success in the Coupe de France would save the Parisians' season ... Still, finishing without a trophy for the first time since 2012 would be a bad thing, that's for sure. ."For next year, it would be important to lift a trophy," slipped "Pocket" before the semi-final in Montpellier.
PSG as a specialist, Kovac too
One thing is certain: Mbappé and company have, more than their dangerous one-day opponents, the experience of major events, and in particular of the Coupe de France finals. PSG have already played 19 in their (young) history, since their first successes in 1982 and 1983, a record shared with OM. And won 13, a record. And this while Monaco is chasing a first coronation in this competition since… 1991. “As they say, a final cannot be played, it is won”, smiles Marquinhos, describing a “special, exciting atmosphere” on the days of final. PSG advantage in this area. But Monaco, it is the team in form of the year 2021. A team which has beaten Paris twice this season and which does not intend to lower its eyes, even if Niko Kovac is willing to grant the Parisians favorite status."They have great players, a good team, but we are sure of ourselves too", slips Wissam Ben Yedder.
The Monegasque captain will be able, like his teammates, to rely on the experience of his coach in terms of the cup. The former Croatian international has indeed played the last three finals of the German Cup, with Frankfurt and Bayern, for two successes (in 2018 and 2019). Remember that PSG were on the bill for the last seven Coupe de France finals, including a penalty shootout loss against Rennes in 2019. “It's a very important week, that's for sure… The calendar is what He is and I never complain, we are living in a difficult, particular time, underlines Niko Kovac, not moved - although he would have the right - by the astonishing programming of this final between the last two days of the championship. My team is well prepared, we are not afraid to give up physically. Everyone is available.We will have solutions from the bench. Let's play (this Wednesday) and then we'll see for Sunday (in Lens). ”
"We are here to win, it's our DNA, our ambition"
Niko Kovac
Except that this trip to Lens will be expensive, very expensive for the ASM. The players of Kovac, in a bubble for several days already and until the end of the season, are currently third in the national hierarchy, with a small point ahead of Lyon. Clearly, they still have to validate their place in C1 for next season ... Mathematically, they are still in the race for the league title, even if it would take a completely improbable scenario to imagine them overtaking Lille and PSG. “We're having a very good season, that's for sure. We are the second best team in the European Top 5 behind Manchester City in 2021. But we have not yet qualified in the Champions League and we have a final to play, notes Kovac. The whole club have done a very good job regardless of the outcome of the season. We're here to win, it's our DNA,our ambition. It will be hard because there is a great, experienced team in front, which will be favorites, but we will do our best to win. ” Kovac, between respect and ambition, while Marquinhos is delighted to see Monaco present itself as a credible rival. "It's good for us, France, L1 and everyone," he says. Not too much anyway.
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As Pochettino explains, “when you approach the last two games of the season, with two trophies at stake, there is no need to motivate the players…” This applies to both teams.
With a little extra soul for Monaco?
Jean-Paul Chaude, president of the ASM supporters' club, died on Sunday.
"We will fight for him and for this trophy that the club has been waiting for 30 years," promises Ben Yedder, selected for the Euro, like Parisians Kylian Mbappé and Presnel Kimpembe.
But with the program that awaits them this week, the Blues are probably not (yet) the head of the France team.
They have plenty of time for that, before disembarking at Clairefontaine ...
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