Unlike his Ligue 2 counterparts from Ajaccio, Rodez and Paris FC, all of whom fell on Friday evening against a hierarchically inferior opponent, Nicolas Seube was smiling after SM Caen's entry into the Coupe de France.
The Stade Malherbe coach was even able to breathe at half-time, because his team had the very good idea to remove all hope from Chartres, leader of group F of National 3, from the first quarter of an hour of the encounter. With a double from Bilal Brahimi, goals from Mickaël Le Bihan and Alexandre Mendy, the Norman club quickly folded the matter, to the great satisfaction of Nicolas Seube.
Nicolas Seube (SM Caen coach): “We got off to a very good start, scoring quickly in the situations we had. We were ultra-efficient. I also found our team impactful in the pressing, technically armed on a pitch that was not easy. In the second half, we obviously slowed down given that the score was certain. This also allowed us to do rotations, to integrate some young people into the training to reward them for their daily work.
It's a satisfaction to be qualified for the next round and it's the best way to prepare for the next match. There was no pressure for a result at half-time, given the score at that time. When we see what happened yesterday (Friday, three Ligue 2 clubs eliminated), it's satisfying.
This match also allowed some to catch up on an athletic level, I am thinking in particular of Mathias (Autret) who had had little playing time and who played 45 minutes. Others who also have little playing time were able to express themselves. I also hope that this match will generate confidence on the offensive level. In Metz (1-0 defeat), success eluded us, we did not take a point. This time, the attackers scored, they will gain confidence as individuals. We are also regulating things defensively, with a goal conceded in the last four matches. There are a lot of positive things.
“A difficult and contested match against Rodez on Friday”
I'm happy for Robin (Verhaeghe) and Gabin (Tomé, who played their very first minutes with the professionals). This makes two more boys from the Gambardella Cup campaign joining the professionals. This highlights all the work of the training educators and the fact that thanks to these generations, the club can exist at the highest level. It’s good to highlight this project.
Now, we have to recover well, do a good week of training in view of the very important deadline on Friday (against Rodez at d'Ornano), against an opponent who has just won by five goals in the championship . They had a disappointment in the Coupe de France this weekend, with many absentees, but it will be a very difficult and contested match, like last season.
In the next round, it's either Seine-Maritime or the Caen district. I would like it to be La Maladrerie, so that we can highlight the partner clubs of Stade Malherbe. It would be nice to be able to have a football party, around a Coupe de France match. »
