Playing against a professional team is always a big event for an amateur footballer. Going to a big stadium maybe makes it even more unique. This Sunday, January 2, the meeting was given at 8:15 a.m. in Vitré.
“We took the bus, direction Nantes to reach a hotel, explains Mathis Jourdan, one of the blood and gold attackers. As the match took place at 1:45 p.m., we had exactly the same ritual as against Panazol (in the previous round). Small snack and talk from the coach then head to the stadium. “
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The substitutes’ bench with Kevin Aubeneau and Robin Theault. © Ouest-France
Around noon, the Vitréens disembark at Beaujoire, escorted by two motorcyclists from the National Gendarmerie. “I don’t know the Beaujoire stadium at all. It’s a real discovery. Even though I am from Niort, I have never been here ”, indicates Vincent Guilbault a blood and gold defender. The players quickly meet together on the lawn for some souvenir photos.
“It’s going much faster”
The watering of the field is on: the Nantes coach has certainly given instructions to the gardeners in order to give speed to the ball, favoring the Nantes game. “It’s going much, much faster on the lawn”, will analyze afterwards Emmanuel Aubert, assistant coach of Laurent Hervé.
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The entry of the players on the field of Beaujoire. © Ouest-France
And while the replacements discover their luxury seats on the sidelines, the two teams make their entry: “It’s always a special moment. As our families had made the trip, we were also keen to be up to the task on the ground. ” They have been. “It is an exceptional event, it is superb to live, the boys are all happy to have lived it and they were at the rendezvous”, resumes Emmanuel Aubert.
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Laurent Hervé, AS Vitré coach, and Antoine Kombouaré, Nantes coach, before kick-off. © Ouest-France
“We gave everything”
Especially in the second half, there would have been room to do something. “ The idea was to go looking for them more. It worked and I had a chance to equalize ”, reports Mathis Jourdan.
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Jordan Lebacle, the Vitréen striker, was very active this Sunday afternoon. © Ouest-France
Unfortunately, a second Nantes goal sounded the death knell for vitreous chances: “We gave everything but we also quickly saw that Nantes took this cup match very seriously. Too bad we did not manage to score this small goal. “
Memories will undoubtedly remain engraved in people’s minds for a long time.
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