Armindo Ferreira, former Châteauroux player and finalist in the Coupe de France against PSG, recalls the best moments of this exceptional epic and evokes the 32nd final arriving this Friday 6 January.
Former Berrichonne midfielder Armindo Ferreira’s career spans 343 Ligue 2 matches, 24 Coupe de France matches, one UEFA Cup match and now a function as director of the Chateauroux training centre. For France 3, he confides in the outstanding career of La Berri in the Coupe de France in 2004. He also talks about the 32th final against the Parisian stars.
Armando Feirreira: These are exceptional moments. When you are a footballer, you always dream of moments in which you will make the finals like when you were young you dreamed of becoming a professional, of making the Champions League, of winning a World Cup.
This dream came true in 2004 when with a huge collective we managed to make a career in the Coupe de France which led us to play this final at the Stade de France in front of 78,000 spectators against PSG.
AF: They had Didier Deschamps as coach. Monaco have won everything, in the league, in the Champions League, they have been first everywhere. They had won against Real Madrid 7-2, it was crazy! When we made the draw we said to ourselves: we will go there and the adventure will end.
Finally we took the chance, scored our only goal through Djibril Sidibé… then we closed up shop. We were all united and won this match with a huge team and a whole city behind us.
For the semi-final we necessarily hoped to play Dijon at home. On the other side PSG-Nantes. There was therefore the possibility of being able to be in the European Cup the following year [Le vainqueur de la Coupe de France se qualifie en coupe de l’UEFA et le finaliste se qualifiait pour un tour préliminaire NdR]. We were all elated to play a Coupe de France semi-final at home in front of our home fans, with the prospect of the final.
When I do a feedback about what happened, this is the best time.
When you enter the field, it seems to you that nothing can happen to you. We won the match with Berry’s 12th man. I hope other La Berrichonne groups carry a whole city, a whole department like that, behind a team. It was brilliant!
Armindo Ferreira, former Châteauroux player
This notion of a group was present with a mix of old and young newcomers. In Chantilly, just before the final, Monsieur Laporte and Monsieur Denisot came to give us a speech. Monsieur Denisot was an exceptional character for the whole group. On the eve of the match, when we entered this empty Stade de France, it was a shock. These are magical and special moments in my heart. When you experience such an adventure, you are bound to the Berrichonne for life.
The staff present made us win these games. They have prepared us tactically for what we have all mastered. Denis Mérigot, Philippe Bretaud, Eric Leroy, this staff has allowed us to do well, especially against Monaco and tactically against PSG.
What we did against PSG prevented them, we played a balanced game. The images of Pauleta’s goal are anchored in our heads and will remain etched in our memory. We made this trip because of this group, the public, a city and a department behind us, we made it for these people.
20,000 Berry supporters had come to Paris, half of Châteauroux was at the Stade de France!
Armindo Ferreira, former Châteauroux player
I remember entering the stadium with the whole Berry corner on this left hand side. I’m from Niort, two coaches had come especially for this match. At the time, we were proud of what we had achieved.
Players know how to do it, I have nothing to teach them. In a game anything is possible. A small team can win against the Parisian ogre. It will be 11 against 11, everything is possible. I’m sure our team can do it today, there are quality players in this team.
For me we have our chances, it’s 49-51 if we play with our true values and qualities. Everything is playable. With a stadium that will be full, I can see what happened against Dijon, our players will be overwhelmed, we will defend well, tactically we will be honest.
You never know what can happen in football. I know we will play a great game and that he can improve our second half of the season.
Armindo Ferreira, former Châteauroux player
Maybe this match will change everything and titillate the first places in the national team. The championship is still long, there are 18 days left, anything is possible.”
Vincent Billy interview
