ASPTT Caen coach Laurent Dufour describes him as “parenthesis“, a lot of players see him as a”event“where more seasoned supporters go so far as to talk about”revenge“. No matter what qualifier we add to it, the duel which this weekend will pit PTT Caen, residents of Regional 1, and the current US Avranches 11th in National, is a real event in the microcosm of Norman football. “It’s a big game“, sums up the Caen coach.”We first want to be up to the task and secondly, we always have this ulterior motive which tells us that for the time being we are not eliminated and that we have to manage to to qualify !“To erase the time of a match the three divisions which separate them from the Manchoise team, Pierre Sorin and his partners will inevitably have to sublimate themselves and undoubtedly even more than that.
“I would really like to have a successful career with my teams”, Laurent Dufour
If the word “revenge“comes to the lips of some, it is because the ASPTT Caen / US Avranches poster is not unpublished. Five seasons ago, at 6e round of the event, the Caennais of Laurent Dufour had to bow 3-1 despite a remarkable game. The Avranchinais, on the gold paved path which had led them to an unforgettable quarter-final against the PSG of Unai Emery (0-3 defeat), had come to give a strong pedaling to the postmen catchy and in front at the break. Not without fear of getting bogged down. “It had been a hotly contested game“, recalls the coach, already on the bench at the time.”We held out until the 70e and for the anecdote, Jordan Blondel, who came from us, had scored the goal of 2-1“.
The context of this Saturday’s duel will nevertheless be different from the 2016/2017 season. On the Avranches side, coach Damien Ott has given way to Fred Reculeau who is not having his best month at the head of Manchois. For the ASPTT, a short stay by the National 3 (2017/2018) punctuated the life of Caen before the club returned to Regional 1 level where Laurent Dufour is still waiting to complete a season, given the Covid. “When I was a player, the Coupe de France has never been more successful for me than that“, explains the technician who is also biding his time in the century-old competition.”The Cup is more important in the amateur world in my opinion. I would really like to have a good course with my teams but we never manage to pass the 6 mark.e or 7e tower. I really want to go further!“What if this season was the right one?e round AS Cherbourg (2-1), then resident of … National.
What face will Avranches show? This is the question!
For the moment, the ASPTT Caen is still chasing its cruising speed in Regional 1 but comes out of a solid draw with its rival La Maladrerie OS (0-0). Currently third in its group, the Caen team are preparing to receive an Avranchinese team in full doubt which has just conceded ten goals in the space of two games. “Everyone at home is waiting for a wake-up call“, analyzes Laurent Dufour.”These are difficult situations as a player or as a coach. I think that when you are in difficulty, the Coupe de France, at least its first laps, can allow you to get up and start again in a positive spiral.“. Should we then fear the awakening of the wounded beast or imagine that the moment has never been more opportune than at the beginning of autumn to beat the Manchese?”Sometimes the spiral continues and a crisis situation can set in. We will make sure that this match does not represent their awakening!“
“We have to manage to raise our level of play and hope that they are having a bad day”
Even if it is a remake of a past meeting, the arrival of Avranches at the Maurice-Fouque stadium clearly does not look like an ordinary event. “We’re gonna try to make it a little club party“, assures Laurent Dufour.”The players who make up my team are invested, most of them come from the club. This is the perfect time to reward the educators who have helped them reach that first team. We also always like to showcase what we do and especially what we do well. We are obviously delighted to have the opportunity to experience this little moment for us“. Also, the followers should be numerous to come and encourage their proteges this Saturday.
Whatever happens to the Postmen in this spicy duel, facing US Avranches and its host of talents is obviously a chance for all Caen players. “For the elders, it is one of the last possibilities to shine in the Coupe de France“, recalls Laurent Dufour.”For the youngest, it’s an opportunity to discover this level, there are lots of positive things to learn from it. It is true that it can only serve them for the future“. Finally, when asked if he is able to deliver in percentage Caen’s chances of extricating himself from the duel as winners, the former Mondeville player judges that it is the Manchois who will hold”the key to the match“. “We already have to be at 120% and them at only 50%“, he analyzes.”We have to manage to raise our level of play and hope that they are having a bad day. The Bianchini, Lamrabette, Experience have individual capacities that we do not have“. And the Postmaster coach concluded:”No matter the level you can be the best player, if you are in a situation of doubt you become an average player“. And then everything becomes possible.
> French Cup. 5e tour – ASPTT Caen (Regional 1) / US Avranches MSM (National), saturday 16 october at 5 p.m. at the Maurice-Fouque stadium.
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Aurélien RENAULT
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