Guingamp makes history – Sports.fr

This is only a qualification for the knockout stages of the Europa League. But for the Forward is already big. More against the premature eliminations of Lille and Saint-Etienne at the end of the group stage.

There was in 2009 and again in 2014, they won the Coupe de France, which had flipped the Cotes d’Armor and torn Britain since twice En Avant Guingamp overcomes the powerful neighbor The Stade Rennais. Two moments of glory that far rubbed a European history course reduced to a single 32-finals of the UEFA Cup in 1996, but remained in local history, Guingamp many (if not all in a city where the capacity Home Roudourou is larger than the number of inhabitants) can claim to have seen that summer play Inter Djorkaeff, Zamorano, Angloma, Ince, Zanetti and other Pagliuca.

In other words, the qualification of the Forward for the knockout of the Europa League, at the cost of a victory Thursday on the lawn of PAOK Thessaloniki (2-1), a feat of value. “It’s a sense of pride. It was not programmed for this you we have repeated enough. To have achieved this then bet to win here is a great performance” , valued at fair value Jocelyn Gourvennec, the coach of this team, quoted by West France .

“We made history “, summed up more directly Younousse Sankharé the Guingamp midfielder, still in the columns of the local newspaper. “This is a historic victory for the club, but also for the Breton football , chimed Bertrand Desplat, the President of costarmoricain club. We are proud of what has been achieved, it s is in fact an exceptional human frame. We live together very well. “

Because what makes the story even richer guingampaise, beyond the fact that the Forward will the only club representing French at this stage of the competition after premature eliminations of Lille and Saint-Etienne, this is the situation that was still hers there just ten days after a defeat on the lawn of Evian -Thonon-Gaillard (0-2) then synonymous penultimate place in the standings. “I do not forget that there are 10 days, we were the dunces of the Ligue 1 , was missing and no stress Gourvennec. But not letting anything, we just winning three times (against Caen, Reims and therefore PAOK, ed) . There both great composure in the club but also a strong determination. It has it in us. We is capable, in important appointments, to be at. “

The European epic Forward perhaps only beginning all that Apart from Italian clubs (Inter and Napoli), its potential adversaries finals sixteenths (Mönchengladbach, Club Brugge KV, Besiktas, Salzburg, Dinamo Moscow, Feyenoord, Everton, Dynamo Kiev, Legia Warsaw, Olympiakos, Sporting Clube de Portugal, Bilbao, Zenit St Petersburg) are not unplayable. See you in February.