The "Gym", in full revival since the arrivals of Ineos (2019) and coach Christophe Galtier (2021), has not won anything since the Coupe de France 1997 (1-1 ap, 4-3 at tab, against Guingamp), a success which had not prevented him from descending to Ligue 2 that year.

French Cup 2021-2022 Vincent LEFAI AFP

But the club has gained momentum over the last decade under the impetus of the duo formed by Jean-Pierre Rivère (president) and Julien Fournier (sporting director, then football), with four European participations in the last nine seasons.

Otherwise, the hours of glory of the OGCN go back a long way, to the 1950s, with the French Cups in 1952 and 1954 and the titles of champion of France in 1951, 1952, 1956 and 1959.

Nice coach Christophe Galtier at a press conference on the eve of the Coupe de France final against Nantes, May 6, 2022 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis FRANCK FIFE AFP

Nantes' track record is less wrinkled, but its future less bright: the owner for 15 years, Waldemar Kita, does not have the means of the petrochemical group Ineos, owned by British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.

The Polish-born businessman is playing his first final on his 69th birthday.

Several dozen arrests

Eight times champions of France, the Canaries have not been since 2001. Long angry with the Cup, with five finals lost, in 1966, 1970, 1973, 1983 and 1993, Nantes only won their finals against clubs lower divisions, AJ Auxerre (D2) in 1979 (4-1 ap), Sedan (D2) in 1999 (2-1) and Calais (4th division) in 2000 (2-1).

Nantes coach Antoine Kombouaré at a press conference on the eve of the Coupe de France final against Nice, May 6, 2022 at the Stade de France FRANCK FIFE AFP

The first Coupe de France final since 2014 without Paris SG, double defending champion, promises a festival of songs and yellow, green, red and black, the colors of the two teams.

"Nantes dreams of a triumph", title in "one" the regional daily Ouest-France, Saturday.

"The Cup and that's it!", Nice Matin echoes him.

The noisy Brigade Loire and Brigade Sud, the former name of the Ultras Populaire Sud de Nice, are among the most fervent choirs in France, and each announce around 20,000 supporters.

For the first time since 2019, the Stade de France will be full.

Before the party, the pre-match was marked by incidents that notably opposed Nice and Nantes supporters, but also groups claiming to be part of the "antifa" movement, especially near the Gare de Lyon, where a brasserie was ransacked. by throwing chairs, glasses and bottles, we learned from a police source.

Two people were slightly injured in these clashes in this cafe.

The Brazilian defender of Nice, Dante, in a press conference on the eve of the Coupe de France final against Nantes, May 6, 2022 at the Stade de France FRANCK FIFE AFP

Around 4:30 p.m., the police had already arrested 39 people since midday, in the Gare de Lyon area and elsewhere in Paris, in connection with the evening match.

"An expectation"

The final of the 105th edition of the Coupe de France pits two friendly coaches against each other.

Nantes in training at the Stade de France on the eve of their Coupe de France final against Nice, May 6, 2022 FRANCK FIFE AFP

"We feel that there is an expectation, a lot of support, we feel a fervor", slipped before the meeting the Nantes coach Antoine Kombouaré who already won the Coupe de France in 2010 at the head of PSG.

"It's always a pleasure, a joy to bring a team, a club, a whole city and the supporters to the Stade de France, a very special moment in a career", abounds his alter ego Christophe Galtier.

And this, "even if some have won beautiful trophies", adds the Nice technician, referring in particular to his captain Dante, winner of the 2013 Champions League with Bayern Munich.

French champion last year with Lille, Christophe Galtier also won the 2013 League Cup with Saint-Étienne.

His current club changed in stature in 2019, with the takeover (100 M EUR) by Ineos whose owner, Jim Ratcliffe, dreams of a first trophy.

Like all of Nantes and all of Nice.

© 2022 AFP