Tuesday, 8 May, 2017

Coupe de France final

Stade de France, Paris

 Vendée Les Herbiers - Paris Saint-Germain 

PSG have already achieved the feat twice, claiming a clean sweep of the Trophée des Champions, the Ligue 1 Conforama title, the Coupe de la Ligue and the Coupe de Fance in back-to-back seasons between 2014 and 2016.

They start as arch-favourites against a team whose budget is 250 times less than the French champions, who could claim the trophy for a record fourth successive year.

Though his squad, packed with household names, will face a side barely known beyond the confines of their own club, PSG coach Unai Emery is careful to acknowledge it will start with 11 against 11 at the Stade de France.

"We have a great opportunity to win another trophy. It's important to focus on that. It's not just any other match, it's a final. Les Herbiers deserve to be here. That's the charm of the Coupe de France," said Emery, who will leave the French capital at the end of the seaosn.

"They're going to enjoy it with their fans, of which there will be many. That will also be the case for us. The stadium will be full. It'll be a great day, and a great final. Everyone at Paris Saint-Germain has a lot of desire and motivation to go for the trophy, with a lot of respect."

Neymar in the stands

He added: "We're preparing for this game just like we do others by analysing our opponents. It's not just another game. We're aware of the importance of the Coupe de France. It's fantastic to play to win a trophy at the Stade de France. The players play for that. We'll have to be very focussed. Being competitive over 90 minutes is the best way to show respect. Verratti and Neymar are injured. We'll see how the others are during Monday's training session."

Though PSG will be without their benchmark-setting Brazilian, who will be at the stadium to see the match, they will be able to count on Angel Di Maria, the competition's leading scorer with seven this season, and Edinson Cavani, who has scored ten goals in the eight domestic finals in which he has been involved.

"Playing this type of match, with the responsibility of winning, is always difficult," explained PSG captain Thiago Silva in Monday's press conference. "We have confidence in ourselves to play well. We have a lot of respect for this team, which has had a great run, just like us. We'll need to give everything. The Coupe de France is a special competition. It's a big occasion, just like every final.

'People think it'll be an easy match, that we've already won. But football isn't like that, it's always tough. We have to focus on ourselves, think about what we have to do to bring a new trophy to the club. I have asked for the videos of all the Les Herbiers forwards to prepare well for this final. Preparing matches always motivates me. We want to finish in the best way possible with this important trophy. We have the chance of winning a fourth domestic title this season. So, we'll have to be very focussed."

Probable team

PSG: Trapp - Dani Alves, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Berchiche - Lo Celso, Motta, Rabiot - Mbappé, Cavani, Di Maria