Monaco and Paris Saint Germain reached the Cup final. Given the squads, Paris SG had a good chance to fulfill at least some of the great ambition driving the club since formation. Monaco had ambition too, so it was going to be close match without favourite.
The opponents clashed and Monaco prevailed 1-0.
Cannot blame then for being boisterous with the Cup in their hands.
Well, Paris SG failed again. This was the third Cup final they played – they won the first two, but not this one. Yes, they had a chance – old, experienced squad is always dangerous in a single ‘the winner takes it all’ match. The veterans, old as they were, knew how to win and they pushed hard. Yet, they lost.
Monaco even at its best always looks somewhat unfinished, not really a great team, having a weak post or two. Perhaps the reason they never dominate, but win sporadically. The title was out of their reach this year, but they were better in the one-on-one Cup format and, since Monaco enjoyed strong period, were good enough to prevail over ambitious, but oldish, Paris SG. Well done, yet, it was still not a great squad… Bravo, Genghini, Ettori, Bellone, Le Roux… nothing like Bordeaux and needing additional players to fill the gaps. Characteristic for Monaco, so they were winning sporadically – it was their 4th Cup, but the previous 3 were won in 1960, 1963, and 1980. Meantime they lost 2 finals – in 1984 to Metz. True, they lost only in overtime, but still lost to weaker squad. This time they won over a squad with similar limitations and it was unlikely that Monaco will made a truly balanced squad, building on this success – they did not make it before in similar circumstances. Just because that club philosophy, guided by budget restrains, Monaco’s victories were perhaps more valuable than those of most successful clubs. And that was why Monaco deserved more to win than Paris SG – after all, the old Parisian stars won quite a lot in their prime time, but for the mentioned above players of Monaco winning was a rare achievement. Good for them to have the Cup.
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