Monaco Eliminated from Coupe de France as Guingamp Triumphs in Extra Time
AS Monaco’s hopes of reaching the Coupe de France final were dashed on Wednesday, as they were defeated 3-1 after extra time by Guingamp at the Roudourou Stadium. Despite a tense and hard-fought match, it was Guingamp who emerged victorious, much to the disappointment of the Principality club and their manager, Claudio Ranieri.
The game, which saw both teams battling for a place in the final, took much longer than expected to be decided, with the scoreline remaining tied until the extra time. Eric Abidal, the captain of the Monaco team, expressed his frustration and disappointment after the defeat. “We were close to this goal,” he sighed. “To be stopped in the semi-finals hurts a lot. The Cup was a goal. We fought for it. We blew a wild card.”
Abidal acknowledged the importance of bouncing back quickly after the setback, especially with Monaco’s focus now shifting to securing second place in Ligue 1, which would guarantee a spot in next season’s Champions League. “The important thing is to be able to get back on our feet quickly. We have to do everything from this weekend to continue to hold on to this second place which will allow us to play in the Champions League next season,” he added.
For Guingamp, this victory marks another milestone in their history, as they head into the Coupe de France final. Having previously won the competition in 2009 against Rennes, they will now meet Stade Rennais on May 3rd at the Stade de France for a chance to lift the trophy once again.
Monaco, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly and focus on their Ligue 1 campaign, as they look to finish strong and secure their place among Europe’s elite for next season.
