French Cup

Igor Tudor, OM coach, following elimination in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France once morest Annecy (2-2, 6-7 on pens) “It’s a great disappointment, a great sadness. We are coming out of a competition where we eliminated PSG and Rennes, it’s madness. Apart from a few details, I’m having a little trouble explaining this at the moment. There is no break, just great sadness. I don’t think the players underestimated the opponent. Annecy played a great match, at a level that I never imagined for an L2 team. On our side, everything that might go wrong has gone wrong. Our flaws came out. Taking two goals at home is not justifiable. And in front, we mightn’t tell the difference. They defended themselves tooth and nail, we had a post, chances, a missed penalty… They gave their all and they succeeded. Clearly, when you go out once morest an L2, it’s because you did badly. We believed in it, we are disappointed. »

Laurent Guyot, Annecy coach : “We believed in it but it’s a bit like the history of the Coupe de France when there is such a difference in level at the start. We are promoted, we had to believe in it by making the smartest match possible and seeing how the boys were going to manage the atmosphere. We were able to seize our chance at the start of the second period. Then the equalizer should not act on the mind and you have to be strong for the shots on goal. I’m happy for the players, many are discovering L2 and have had chaotic journeys. It is their state of mind that is rewarded. We are going to savor on the bus while we get home but we receive Metz on Saturday and we have a maintenance to look for. In any case, it’s strong, what kiff! We do this job for that. It’s amazing to be in atmospheres like that. In the semi-finals, I would like to receive but it is the case of the four teams. Let’s stay humble and keep working. »

Franck Haise, coach of Lens, following the qualification of his players in Lorient in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France, 1-1, 4-2 on pens: “We had a good first half where we should have scored the second goal in a few situations, but Lorient pushed harder in the second half. After the equalizer, we had to switch to the shots on goal, not stay on the 90/95 minutes of play. The players did it very well.

We did Brest outside (3-1, round of 32)we have just done Lorient, we will go to Nantes… (About the quarter-final behind closed doors) It’s obviously a shame for Nantes but it’s a shame for football necessarily. We would have liked to receive too but if we continue the course, we will have another chance. Ambition does not go down, from the beginning, we tell ourselves that everything is possible. The fact of never having won it is not an additional motivation, the Coupe de France is an important motivation on its own. It’s a magnificent trophy, and emotions to live. »

Régis Le Bris, coach of Lorient: “It was a very instructive evening. We still have benchmarks to set […]. The players are not interchangeable parts like in a clockwork. It takes time. It’s the game experience that will allow us to move things forward. Little by little, we managed the defensive aspects better, because they really managed to find passing circuits that bothered us a lot. It gave us a better continuity in the game.

In the second half, we managed to gradually reverse the balance of power in our favour. The equalizer is deserved. Then, Lens negotiated the shots on goal better than us. It’s not a lottery at all, it’s a specific exercise. I obviously come out of it frustrated but we have experienced emotions together. The stadium vibrated once more tonight (THURSDAY). The Cup would have added salt to the rest of the season, but the salt comes from the game. I am very excited to continue the season with this group. We enjoy. I have no doubts regarding the ambition of the club, the staff and the players for the remaining 16 matches. »