Thomas Siniecki, Media365: published on Saturday December 21, 2024 at 4:06 p.m.
The stories of Calais and the Cup are perfectly inseparable, and even the draws are involved.
Almost half a century. This is already what separates the Calais – Strasbourg of March 2000, in the quarter-finals (2-1) of the unforgettable epic of the CRUFC coached by Ladislas Lozano, and that of December 2024 this time in the 32nd of a Cup of France whose magic definitely never fades. It was in Bollaert at the time, in front of 25,000 supporters, and since then the Stade de l'Epopée has been built in Calais and it will be sold out on Saturday evening. This gala match will therefore be played in front of 12,000 people, including Cédric Schille and Mickaël Gérard who will kick off. Names that necessarily speak to you if you remember the incredible Calais adventure, ended at the last minute of the final at the Stade de France against Nantes (1-2), since they were respectively goalkeeper and attacker within this team.
Laridon: “We’re not under pressure, it’s just a bonus”
Gaëtan Lemoine, the president of the Red Dragons supporters club, confides his enthusiasm (for BFM TV): “Strasbourg is not doing too well, we'll see what happens… We have nothing to lose, everything to gain We have to follow in the footsteps of before and give everything to have fun, above all, to offer a great football match and above all a great atmosphere. The Cup attracts a lot of people.” It is no coincidence that this match was chosen by beIN SPORTS to be broadcast alone on Saturday evening, at 9 p.m.
The new Ladislas Lozano is called Olivier Laridon, on the bench of this new club created only a year and a half ago, but which of course brings Calais together beyond all consideration at this very special moment: “We are not under pressure, it's just a bonus for the whole club Even if we also have to support the young players in an unusual configuration, with all this media pressure… This week, we had people at each session, that's it. film etc. But for Saturday, I have asked to be left in our privacy and our locker room, we are in 32nd and we are enjoying it.”
