A match with regional stakes is what awaits Lyon-La Duchère against Saint-Étienne in the Coupe de France.
Sunday, December 19 at 1:45 p.m., the National 2 club of Lyon-La Duchère receives at home the Ligue 1 team of Saint-Étienne, on the occasion of the 32nd finals of the Coupe de France. Less than 24 hours from this unprecedented match, Jean-Christophe Vincent, president of the Lyon-La Duchère football club, talks about the importance of this meeting.
24 hours before the match, what atmosphere reigns in and around the club?
It’s a beehive atmosphere! Everyone is busy on different subjects: security, location signs, reception, protocol, placement of supporters, etc. These are things that we are not used to dealing with.
Do you consider this match against a derby?
It’s a mini-derby, yes. We don’t take ourselves for Olympique Lyonnais, we start from afar, that’s why it’s a “mini derby”. There is a particular spirit in this match. In its history, Lyon-La Duchère has played against OL, PSG, against big teams. But here, against Saint-Étienne, it’s the first time and it’s a match with regional stakes. We are in the context of competition between Lyon and Saint-Etienne. Except that this time, it’s us who have the role of small against the big city.
“We have no pressure”,
Jean-Christophe Vincent.
Sportingly, how do you apprehend it?
Basically, we don’t stand a chance. We play against professional players, even if they are last in Ligue 1. Afterwards, precisely, the context, for many reasons, gives us a chance. We have a special history with the Coupe de France, and Saint-Etienne is having a complicated season. In this context, we have players who can hope to be noticed by big clubs through this meeting. And then, the match is in Lyon, it’s a question of the derby. We have no pressure, no one will blame us for losing. The pressure is on the side of ASSE. Losing would be difficult for them.
Lyon-La Duchère has twice reached the round of 16 of the Coupe de France, in 2006 and 2019. How is this DNA transmitted?
Lyon-La Duchère is a team that has never reached the 2nd division, but is known in French football for its career in the Coupe de France. There is a tradition internally. The players know that we will try to make a career in the Coupe de France every year, they know that the club can benefit from this light.
“People like to fuck off”,
Jean-Chrisophe Vincent
Security, in view of yesterday’s events between Paris FC and OL, will be a very important point. Are you calm?
One can never be serene in relation to morons. People like to fuck off, and we expose ourselves to human bullshit. It puts some pressure. Afterwards, I think that the Ducherois would not like people from outside the neighborhood to come and give a bad image. As soon as there is a news item here, we escalate it. There, we have a festive match, which can bring a different perspective, which can show a positive, benevolent image and the sense of hospitality of the Duchere… To ensure safety, the prefecture imposes a hundred security guards and a CRS company.
Where are you at with ticket sales?
We have sold 3000 seats out of the 5700. Spectators can still buy their tickets. The Balmont stadium will be open from 12:15 tomorrow, tickets will also be on sale at the entrance. Access to the stadium is subject to the presentation of a valid health pass and the wearing of a mask.
See also the 6 mn stopwatch with Jean-Christophe Vincent:
Lyon-La Duchère: match at 1:45 p.m. at the Balmont stadium. Ticketing here. Broadcast of the match on France 3 Regions and Eurosport.
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