The players of the ASPTT Montpellier receive, this Sunday in Grammont (2:30 p.m.), the mythical Olympique de Marseille.
Manon Bruno, how did you feel when you learned a few days ago that you would face Olympique de Marseille in the 32nd finals of the Coupe de France?
A lot of joy. We are going to play a very good team, which is second in its championship and has achieved very good things since the start of the season. For us and for the club, it’s really a good poster. It’s one of the meetings that we remember for a long time.
Do some of the team’s players support OM?
Yes, there are, as is often the case in the south (laughs). Afterwards, we also know that the male and female structures of the club are a little different. But it’s clear that this match will have a special flavor for some of the girls on the team.
As captain, what will you ask of your teammates?
To fight and give it your all, I think that’s really the most important thing. I don’t want us to have any regrets at the end. We know that we are going to play against a big team and experienced girls, who have a lot more experience and qualities than us. But as they always say, anything can happen in 90 minutes. This is what makes the magic of the cut.
The pressure has sometimes inhibited teams in your situation. Is it a fear?
This is a factor that can actually count. But I think this match should be approached as a classic match, without putting any particular pressure on yourself. We practice our passion at the amateur level, we play every weekend for fun. We will have to keep in mind that this kind of encounters very rarely happen in a football career. So let’s not put pressure on ourselves and take maximum pleasure.
Especially since beyond your single collective, it’s a whole club that will experience this great meeting.
It is clear that this is an event for the club, the leaders and the volunteers. It will be a very nice party, there should be a lot of people to support us. We are all really happy to offer this poster to all members of the ASPTT Montpellier. And if we manage to create a surprise and give them beautiful emotions, we will not deprive ourselves of it.
Beyond the cup, what are your ambitions for this season?
The championship has been revamped, we are playing this season against teams from across the Ligue d’Occitanie. The level is high, we regularly face reserves from professional teams. But that doesn’t stop us from wanting to go as high as possible and do everything to aim for the leading roles. It would be nice to at least grab the podium, especially since we are lucky this year to have a great group, with an excellent atmosphere. Between the young players and the slightly more experienced players, everything is going well. We are all friends, which necessarily helps us when we are in the field.
On a personal level, what does it mean for you to live this poster as captain?
I am proud to be the captain of this team. The other girls in the group are friends, something strong was created between us at the start of the season. Afterwards, it is certain that this role of captain obliges me to constantly encourage the team, to ensure that everything is going well. But I take it very positively, I’m really happy to live this experience.
