This Wednesday, December 18, the Gothiques d’Amiens, who are recovering Bergeron, begin a series of three matches in five days with the quarter-final of the Coupe de France against the Brûleurs de loups, whom they will meet two days later in the championship.
Two training sessions, one on Monday evening at 7 p.m., another on Tuesday morning at 10:45 a.m., that’s how to get in shape correctly for the Amiens Gothiques, at the dawn of a series of three matches that will determine the end seasonal. Two matches against the Brûleurs de loups, in Isère, the first this Wednesday, December 18 for the quarter-final of the Coupe de France, the second for the 28th day of the Magnus League. Mario Richer attaches little importance to this sequence of two matches against the same team: “It’s always one game at a time. We focus on the first. We’ll see the second one. It doesn’t change because we play two games against them.” The Amiens will end their crazy week at home on Sunday, December 22, with the reception of the Bordeaux Boxers.
Focused on this first big meeting of the weekMario Richer often likes to say that in a match with this kind of stake, and against this type of opponent, you have to have the best match of the year. But even if we achieve an extraordinary performance, would that be enough to bring down Grenoble’s Brûleurs de loups, who seem so untouchable, that the Amiens coach considers to be the best team in the Magnus League? « I think there is one team that can win everything this year, it’s them.« So, to defeat these Grenoblois, the Quebecer lists the different factors which can allow the Gothiques to overcome the Isérois when they have already broken their teeth twice in the championship (5-0 and 1-6) . “To beat them, our goalkeeper must have an exceptional match. Then, defensively, you have to be very strong, block a lot of shots and be effective in the offensive phase. These are three very important points. We want to have the best game, and they have to have bananas on the ice in their zone. They need to slip up a little. »
Despite the gap on paper, the tough matches of the Coupe de France sometimes hold surprises and the underdog sometimes achieves the unthinkable. Aleksandar Magovac, defender of the Amiens Gothiques, believes in his team’s chances against Grenoble. “It’s only one game, so we can win it. There is no clear winner. […] They’re the best team in the league, but like I said, it’s just one game and anything can happen. » After two games of absence, Justin Bergeronwho received the green light from doctors after his medical examinations which revealed nothing, is returning to the group. Ugo Tocquin and Noa Bessonin the recovery phase, are not yet fit and Mario Richer will once again have a somewhat light fourth line, especially when we put it next to that of the Grenoblois. “Last time when we played against them, their fourth line with Guerif or Deschamps, if we had had them here, they would be on the front line”he smiles.
The Coupe de France, always a special competition seen from Amiens
In 2019, the Coupe de France entered the hearts of the Gothics; in 2020, she became familiar with the Picardy club and the Amiens supporters. It was already four years ago, but for some members of the squad, the memories are still fresh. “It’s incredible, it happens very quickly because you play a match for a month, you come back to the season and you have another match, the Coupe de France, and you tell yourself that we are one step closer to the Cut. It happens quickly and they are very beautiful memories of Bercy, remembers Joey West, assistant to Mario Richer. We won twice. The first was incredible, the second, maybe more, as it was against Rouen. It was magical.« These memories, which have marked the history of the club, appear in particular in the players’ locker rooms. Who can really understand what this competition represents. “As soon as I joined the team, we talked about it, says Zachary Lavigne. I believe it’s a certain unifying bond. In fact, everyone comes together around the Coupe de France. I believe this is a main objective here in Amiens. […] The fans are waiting for this as much as the organization. We have a job to do. We will have to show up for the next match. »
Coupe de France, 1/4 final :
Wednesday December 18 – 8:15 p.m., Polesud
Grenoble – Amiens
César Willot
Photo credit: Kevin Devigne – Gazettesports.fr
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