2023-11-20 03:02:05
This is where Thierry Henry, Patrice Evra and Anthony Martial kicked their first balls. No, not in Saint-Michel-sur-Orge but a few balloon throws away, on the other side of the A10 motorway, in Les Ulis. This is where the meeting between Petit Poucet in the 7th round of the Coupe de France and Entente Sannois Saint-Gratien (N3) was relocated. Through the windows of the clubhouse, we can see the Barça or Manchester jerseys given by the players in question during their time of splendor.
Four divisions separate Saint-Michel, playing at the departmental level (D1), from its opponent, the Entente Sannois Saint Gratien (N3). The comparison is daring but it is as if a Ligue 1 club had challenged another from National 3. On paper, Saint-Michel therefore did not have the shadow of a chance of being the first Ile-de-France club in this level to exceed this 7th round since Olympique Neuilly 10 years ago. At the time, and this brings back memories, the 1st district division was still called Excellence.
“Being eliminated by a Ligue 2 would have been more of a blow”
With such a difference in hierarchy, we generally say that the price is a goal difference per division. On paper, Saint-Michel, supported by nearly 300 supporters, should have conceded a good 4-0. The Entente qualified by winning “only” 2-0, scoring the first goal just after half-time and the second in stoppage time. Little Thumb was therefore logically bitten but his flesh was not He wasn’t kind. He defended himself well.
“We can be proud of our guys,” rejoices Abdel, a Saint-Michel supporter in the stands. They gave everything, until the end. They never gave up. We knew it was going to be complicated, that the step was a bit high. It’s already great to have gotten this far: the little guys played the match of their season. They didn’t miss it and shouldn’t have any regrets. »
To get there, coach Yahaya Soukouna’s players started the adventure last June. They initially took out smaller ones than themselves to arrive at a paper ogre, the Entente. “That’s what bothers me the most,” regrets Maxime, 22 years old, along the handrail. Saint-Michel did all this, without anyone talking about it, only to fall in the 7th round against a team from the region and only a National 3. The draw did not help them. Even if it means getting knocked out by going that far, you might as well fall against the pros. Getting eliminated by a Ligue 2 would have been more of a blow and it would have made even greater memories for the players. »
At this level, desire and tenacity are not lacking. Rather, what is lacking is precision. “Yes, we sometimes lacked realism and concentration, particularly on the first goal we scored. I would have liked us to go as far as penalties, we had the room to get there in my opinion. I nevertheless think that we can say that we fell with honors, with our heads held high,” says coach Yahaya Soukouna. He pursues. “We must not forget the work that this type of match requires for a club: moving to another pitch is never easy but everyone did a fantastic job. We can be proud of that too. »
The Cup parenthesis closed, Saint-Michel will from this Monday refocus on its number 1 objective: the championship with a possible promotion to R3 at the end of the season. The Essonne team is second in its group. “We are good players,” Valentin Croissant laughs as he leaves the stadium. That’s why we preferred to be eliminated. To be fresh for the championship. And then we wanted to give PSG a chance to win at the end. Without us, it will be easier for him. » A little more, perhaps…
For its part, with the Coupe de France, the Entente Sannois Saint-Gratien, the former resident of National, hopes to find some light again. Because in the championship, it’s not really fun. The Entente is dead last in its group, already 4 points behind the flotation zone. Relegation hangs in his face. The Cup can do him good.
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