The crazy epic of AS Monaco Women’s Football in the Coupe de France
Nothing can stop AS Monaco FF footballers this season! In 11 league games (R1) and 7 rounds of the Coupe de France, the Monegasques have only known victory. But in the next round (Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Beausoleil) it is the professionals from the Stade de Reims (D1) who will stand on their course.
The meeting is doubly historic. First, because theASM FF had never reached the knockout stages of the Coupe de France. Then, because the club faces, for the first time, an elite club.
A mountain to burn
The Monegasque coach Stephane Guigo is aware of the scale of the task awaiting its players. The technician evokes “an almost insurmountable obstacle”.
But the main thing is elsewhere. The challenge, according to him, is to “show a good image of the club” and to contest this match “in a festive spirit” as a reward for the excellent season accomplished by its players. The championship and the rise to the next level at the end of the season being the priority objective.
Houleye Deme don’t say anything else. The captain of AS Monaco FF sees in this match against Stade de Reims the opportunity to gain experience and “have fun while learning”.
Aware of the gap that separates the teams of R1 from those of D1, the defense has set itself the objective of “playing with style while keeping our principles and our system of play”. And come what may!
“No Stade Louis II? We take what we are given”
The only regret for AS Monaco Women’s Football: this round of 16 of the Coupe de France will not be played at the Stade Louis II. The request made by the leaders was not accepted.
“Of course, the Stade Louis II makes us dream but the Beausoleil pitch remains a beautiful pitch on which we made our mark in the previous round” explains Houleye Deme.
Stéphane Guigo explains that he does not want to dwell on the subject but reveals a mixture of bitterness and irony when talking about “the stars and former pros who walked on the lawn of Louis II” at the start of the week (Editor’s note : for the Fight Aids Cup) before adding that “the stadium should be open to everyone and women’s football is part of Monaco”.
AS Monaco FF / Stade de Reims, round of 16 of the Coupe de France, Saturday January 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the Prince Héréditaire Jacques de Beausoleil stadium.
Find the complete interviews of Stéphane Guigo and Houleye Deme in the podcast of our latest issue of “Sport Time”.