The last Coupe de France won by OM dates back to 1989, with a final won 4-3 against Monaco and marked by the famous kiss to François Mitterrand from Marseille captain Jean-Pierre Papin, author of a fantastic hat-trick.

Almost 35 years later, JPP has returned to Marseille as an adviser to President Pablo Longoria and, while he can no longer score the goals that matter, he will be able to remind the players how much OM loved the Coupe de France. France, won ten times.

From the end of January, Longoria had also reminded the press that the centenary trophy was "a real objective", much more than the illusory title in L1 in which the leaders never really believed.

The President of the Republic François Mitterrand kisses OM striker Jean-Pierre Papin while presenting him with the Coupe de France, June 10, 1989 at the Parc des Princes © JEAN-LOUP GAUTREAU / AFP/Archives

For the few who still hoped, PSG's visit to Marseille on Sunday, driven by an unplayable Mbappé-Messi duo, in any case served as a revealer: OM must focus on the podium and on the Cup.

"I never talked about any classification, any objective. I always talked about the next game, progress and things to do well", also recalled Tuesday Igor Tudor, not very talkative in press conference 48 hours after the defeat against PSG.

"It was a difficult match for us and we came up against a great team. But we're not going to give up. There are still a lot of matches left and a very important one in the Coupe de France against Annecy. We're going to continue to do everything give", had for his part warned Mattéo Guendouzi on Sunday.

"That would be stupid"

Sign of the importance that Marseille attaches to the Cup, the Vélodrome will still be full, or almost, for the arrival of Annecy, a good performance for a quarter-final played on a weekday at 9 p.m. against a team from L2, even if the attractive rates offered by the club contributed to the enthusiasm.

And as Tudor reminded us, after having eliminated two big teams, OM really have an opportunity not to waste.

"I have confidence in my players, who have experience. Our opponent has nothing to lose but us, we have a lot to gain. We took out Rennes and PSG, it would be stupid not to pass this round there," he said on Tuesday.

Before going to Rennes on Sunday for a new top-of-the-table duel in L1, the Croatian technician could still give a few players a break and launch others lacking playing time, such as Vitinha, Payet, Ounahi or Kaboré .

OM attacking midfielder Dimitri Payet and former club star striker Jean-Pierre Papin, during the Coupe de France match against Hyères, January 7, 2023 in Martigues © Nicolas TUCAT / AFP/Archives

"Some will play, some won't. It's sport, it's normal that there are unhappy people but they stay positive. They have to be ready when there is an opportunity and in any case they all train fine,” he explained.

Faced with Annecy, 10th in L2 with eight wins, eight draws, nine losses and zero goal difference, OM are a priori in a position of strength.

But Chancel Mbemba, who missed hugely against Paris and is expected to return on Wednesday, is wary.

"We are not favorites, assured the Congolese defender. It's a quarter-final and we're going to play it like every league game. It's a crucial game for us."

© 2023 AFP