Axel Allag, Media365: published on Wednesday January 15, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.
Lionel Vaillant, the coach of FC Espaly (National 3), knows well the gulf that separates his team from PSG, but does not imagine suffering a correction this Wednesday evening in Clermont-Ferrand.
The match of a lifetime will begin in a few hours for FC Espaly, opposed to PSG in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France and without even thinking about the caliber of the opponent, the resident of National 3 was able to measure the greatness of surrounding since the draw. It will not be in its traditional Stade du Viouzou that the little thumb of the meeting will play but at the Marcel-Michelin stadium in Clermont which will of course be sold out with nearly 15,000 spectators expected.
“Taking a pantyhose? This is not the imagined scenario”
“Espaly has 3,500 inhabitants, so when we manage to triple the population just with a football match and see so many people come to support us, it’s beautiful,” summarized Lionel Vaillant with Zoomdici before this meeting whatever happens historic for a National 3 team which will play the first round of 16 of the Coupe de France in its history after having claimed the scalp of Dijon in the 32nd (1-1; 4 shots on goal at 3).
Faced with the “top level” represented by PSG who will still present themselves without certain executives, should we believe in the feat? The magic of the Coupe de France has a habit of manifesting itself when we least expect it, but against the record club for titles in the tournament (15) and holder of the competition, the march is very high, as the agreed Vaillant, PE teacher in Haute-Loire. “Of course, we keep our feet on the ground, we know very well that it is going to be very complicated. There is perhaps a 10% chance that we pass,” he estimated, not considering the option of a large-scale misadventure at around 11 p.m., or a little more if the suspense were to drag on.
“Taking a pants down? That's not the imagined scenario. Afterwards, if it has to happen, it will happen… I see the meeting more as a desire to put on a great performance, to resist as much as possible and, why not, to create the exploit”. All you have to do is try your luck and count, more than ever, on the magic of the Coupe de France.
