Following Paris Saint-Germain's 1-0 Coupe de France victory over AS Saint-Etienne on Friday evening, OGC Nice booked their place in the group phase of the next Europa League. How did that work? Read on….
OGC Nice will indeed participate in the next edition of the UEFA Europa League. Thanks to Paris Saint-Germain victory over AS Saint-Etienne in the Coiupe de France final (1-0) on Friday, Patrick Vieira's men join LOSC in being qualified for the Europa League group stage - thanks to their impressive fifth-placed Ligue 1 Uber Eats finish in 2019-20.
Rivère: 'Enjoy it to the full'
"It's not going to change our transfer plans," said club president Jean-Pierre Rivère on the club's website on Friday evening. "We set out our aims for the transfer window before we had qualified for the Europa League, and we're not going to deviate from our plans. What's certain is that we're going to do everything we can to try and do well in this great competition. It's going to give our young players some extra experience.
"I experienced the match with a lot of circumspection and serenity, because the outcome was not in our hands, but we are very happy," continued Rivère. "We're also thinking of our supporters, who have been behind us all season. This qualification is also theirs and I hope that all the conditions will be there for them to enjoy it to the full."
A chance for Stade de Reims
After LOSC and OGC Nice, who will be the final French club to clinch a European place? It will all come down to the Coupe de la Ligue BKT final between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais on 31 July. If OL pip PSG to the title, Les Gones will get a ticket to the Europea League's second qualifying round. However, if Thomas Tuchel's men double down and also win the Coupe de la Ligue BKT, it will be last season's sixth placed side, Stade de Reims, who will snaffle up that place in the second qualifying round.