“Valenciennes is a Ligue 2 club in the National”

Valenciennes continues to worry his opponents. Currently 12th in the National, the northern club is a long way from its years of prestige in Ligue 1 and even Ligue 2. However, it retains the respect of its future opponents. This Sunday, the VAFC will travel to the Thionville pitch (5:30 p.m.) for the 32nd finals of the Coupe de France. On this occasion, Julien François, coach of the National 2 club and former professional player at Metz and Tours, maintains a positive image of his future opponent: “Valenciennes is a Ligue 2 club in the National. It's almost 15 million budget, a crazy stadium, top facilities It's a slightly downgraded club but which was a semi-finalist in the Coupe de France last season”, he recalled to the Républicain Lorrain.

The Coupe de France is also an opportunity for reunions

The upcoming match will also be an opportunity for the two coaches, from the same region and having often crossed paths since their childhood, to meet again: “I played against Vincent Hognon, my father trained him in the selection from Lorraine, he’s a local, he must have two or three spies in the area to inform him,” said Julien François. However, he remains cautious, emphasizing that “this remains a Cup match, there is always this element of irrationality. We will have to look for the right energy to overthrow this team. It is one more opportunity to write a new page of history while keeping in mind that there is a heritage behind us and that Thionville has already achieved great things in French football”, indicated the Moselle coach.