Guingamp has once again made history! Just like in 2009, Guingamp emerged victorious over Rennes in the Coupe de France final, securing a 2-0 win at the Stade de France!
With this triumph, En Avant Guingamp secures a spot in the Europa League for the next season.
Jocelyn Gourvennec, the jubilant coach of the club, expressed his happiness in an interview with AFP after the match:
“It’s an immense joy for everyone involved – the club, the city, the players, and the staff. I represent twelve people on the staff, and it’s a significant achievement for all of us. We’re proud to have executed our game plan perfectly. Playing in a final is always tense, and the margin for error is slim. But we played with tremendous energy, organization, and efficiency. It’s not about miracles; it’s about hard work and dedication. Lionel Mathis, winning his 4th French Cup, is a testament to the fact that anything is possible in football.”
“We may have better chances when playing in bigger cities like Paris, Marseille, or Lyon. But Guingamp reclaiming the title after five years is truly magical. To be part of this journey and to lead the team to victory is incredibly gratifying. However, our focus now is to finish the season strongly and secure our position in the league. Despite having the smallest budget in Ligue 1, we have achieved our objective of promotion and maintaining our status is within reach.”
On the other hand, Philippe Montanier, the coach of Rennes, expressed his profound disappointment:
“I am extremely disappointed, and ‘disappointment’ is an understatement. We expected to perform well, but we failed to deliver. The first half was particularly challenging, and conceding a goal early in the second half made matters worse. It’s difficult to explain our poor performance. We must acknowledge Guingamp’s strong performance, although we contributed to our downfall in the first half. It’s important to be dignified in defeat and quickly regroup for the challenges ahead.”
Tags: Coupe de France 2014, Jocelyn Gourvennec, En Avant Guingamp, Rennes
