The Greens did more than resist. They still left the Stade de France with their heads down, their hearts heavy and regrets, Friday night, after the defeat in the 103rd final of the Coupe de France against PSG (1-0). Because the scenario of the match is as terrible as it is dramatic.
Severely beaten in Ligue 1 on December 15 at Geoffroy-Guichard (0-4) then in the Coupe de la Ligue at the Parc des Princes on January 8 (6-1), Claude Puel’s men have this time watched the Parisians straight in the eye. Wet eyes after the half hour of play, when Loic Perrin, taken over by Kylian Mbappé, was sent off after a long scuffle between all the players and then the use of video assistance (31st). In what was certainly the last game of his career, Capi was comforted by all his partners and even his coach (read on the following pages). Touched, the number 7 of the club of the capital had to give up his place after having rocked the meeting alone. A quarter of an hour before, his dazzling acceleration after a fast free kick allowed Neymar, with the help of the bar, to open the scoring (14th).
Greens not realistic
If at that point the men of a Thomas Tuchel unhappy with the start of the match on his sidelines are in front, it is only thanks to the genius of his world champion. The ASSE players, with very high pressing and the positioning of Mason and Bouanga in the lanes to help the full-backs, prevent PSG from deploying their game.
Masters of the ball (61% possession after 20 minutes!), The Stéphanois make good use of it. Bouanga, on the post (5th), then stumbles on a good Keylor Navas (16th, 21st). Unlike the reigning French champions, Saint-Etienne lacks realism. And facing Paris, it rarely forgives.
ASSE does not abdicate
Despite their shorthandedness – the third in as many games against Paris this season – and their late goal, the Greens are not giving up. As if they felt invested in a mission to honor their captain, whose exit broke the hearts of all Saint-Etienne fans. Claude Puel, certainly irritated at not having finished the match at eleven, will be able to draw some positive from this final. In his cage, Jessy Moulin perfectly assumed his role of number one. His headline on a cover of Di Maria is splendid (25th) and he then rejected all Parisian attempts (45th + 2, 45th + 7, 59th 73rd). The eternal substitute goalkeeper kept his team believing it until the end. At ten, against Paris, it’s already not bad. But not enough to not bring coupe home …