Toulouse Football Club launches its Coupe de France campaign this Saturday, December 21, 2024, at 3:30 p.m., with a trip to Feurs (Loire) to face the Hauts Lyonnais amateur club. At a press conference on the eve of this 32nd final, Carles Martinez Novell does not rule out carrying out a workforce reviewto solicit players who do not necessarily have the opportunity to show themselves for the rest of the season.
“It’s on merit”
“We approach the match above all to win it, warns the Violets coach. I often repeat that I am happy with my squad and that I have a competitive, deep squad. So it's a good match to give opportunities to those who perhaps have a little less playing time. On the other hand, I insist on the fact that it is on merit, I am not going to give any gifts. Those who play will have earned their place based on what they show every day in training. If I have the feeling that there is someone who is training a little less well in recent weeks, it is not because he does not have playing time that we are going to give him any. We will also see depending on the scenario of the match, if we can afford to rotate.”
Among those who will benefit from this seemingly affordable match for the TFC (5 divisions difference between the two teams), the usual replacement for Guillaume Restes, Alex Dominguez. The 26-year-old goalkeeper has so far only played 18 minutes this season, against Auxerre (2-0 victory).
“Respect our game plan”
Also present at the press conference, the Spanish goalkeeper insists on the importance of staying focused before such a matchfacing a supposedly weaker team. “We prepare no differently from a Ligue 1 match, assure Alex Dominguez. In fact, we approach it like another match. And that's precisely what we insisted on, we have to respect our way of doing things, respect our habits, respect our game plan. If we approach this match differently, perhaps that's also what will lead to something unbalanced. That's not our goal. Obviously we absolutely must remain vigilant, remain attentive. We know that it could be a trap match, but we also know that if we respect what we usually do, that won't be the case. The goal was to work normally, have a normal week and prepare for the match without changing everything.”
The people of Toulouse are keen to get this new Coupe de France campaign off to a good start, while also making people forget the disillusionment experienced last season against Rouenin the round of 16 (defeat on penalties, 11-12). Hauts Lyonnais – TFC can be experienced live and in full on France Bleu Occitanie, pre-match from 3:15 p.m.
