The Cup final opposed lowly teams – Montpellier and Racing (Paris). For Racing winning the Cup may have been a way out of trouble – perhaps, may be, probably… for their financial problems were big. Montpellier had single success in the ancient past: they won the Cup once, in 1929. After that they had insignificant, modest at best, existence and given that, it almost a miracle they reached the final. Toa point, a battle of equals, but Montpellier was slightly better this season and managed to prevail at the final 2-1.
Racing lost the final and with that any chance to avoid destruction. Too bad… No point to evaluate the team – most of it was not going to play for Racing the next season.
Grand victory for Montpellier, immediately opening new vistas – it was not just winning a trophy at last, but going to play in the Cup Winners Cup tournament practically demanded the team to be reinforced, somehow to get more players with names, as it was ‘proper’ for a club with fresh trophy. They had a few well respected players, including Brazilian national team defender Julio Cesar, but Valderama, who played in the previous and the next season was missing. Instead, Eric Cantona was here for for a little while. Montpellier enjoyed big victory, a trophy, the boys became instant legends.
Here are the winners again – standing from left: Jean-Claude Lemoult, Franck Lucchesi, William Ayache, Daniel Xuereb, Albert Rust, Pascal Baills.
Crouching: Kader Ferhaoui, Julio César, Laurent Blanc, Vincent Guérin, Eric Cantona
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