The 2003 Gambardella Cup victory

Route to the Final

• Round of 64 : TVEC Sables d’Olonne 0 - 7 Stade Rennais
• Round of 32 : EA Guingamp 0 - 4 Stade Rennais
• Round of 16 : Stade Rennais 2 - 0 Niort
• Quarter-finals : Tours FC 0 - 2 Stade Rennais FC
• Semi-finals : Stade Rennais 3 - 1 Olympique Lyonnais
• Final : Stade Rennais 4 - 1 RC Strasbourg

Rennes’ Team for the Final

Florent Chaigneau (cap), Sébastien Letoux, Sylvain Macé (Arthur Sorin, 84’), Grégory Bourillon, Jacques Faty, Fabien Dugaz, Arnold Mvuemba, Jonathan Bru, Jimmy Briand, Yoann Gourcuff (Nadir Benchenaa, 75’), Stéphane N’Guema (William Stanger, 84’).

Other players involved in the competition: Romain Salin, Grégory Douard, Simon Pouplin - Grégory Tanagro, Aurélien Montaroup, Willy Barru, Brice Clairenteau, Paolo Baldi - Johann Ramaré, Florent Besnard, Simon Delaveau - Grégory Bourgé.

The Final: Match Details

- May 31st, 2003, Saint-Denis (Stade de France)
- Referee : Emmanuel Esneu
- Stade Rennais FC 4 - 1 RC Strasbourg
- Half-time : 4-1
- Goals : Gourcuff (15’), N’Guéma (36’ & 40’), Briand (42’) for Rennes; Mouloungui (43’) for Strasbourg
- Yellow Card : Sylvestre (58’) for Strasbourg

Match Summary

Rennes wins the Gambardella Cup, thirty years after the club’s first victory in 1973, at the end of a very high quality game. The Rennes youth, national champions in 2002, win yet another title. The match was as good as over at half-time, with four Rennes goals against only one for Strasbourg. Yoann Gourcuff had opened the counter with a superb free-kick, with Stephane N’Guema adding two. Jimmy Briand made it 4-0 before Eric Mouloungui saved the day for Strasbourg just before half-time. No more goals would be scored.

Source: Fédération Française de Football

Reactions

- Landry Chauvin (Rennes Coach) : “Our aim coming here was to win the cup, and not let the event and the stadium make us lose our focus. My players did the job perfectly, especially in the first period. That half was a bit strange as we didn’t really manage to accelerate the game, but yet managed to score four goals. Then, during the half-time break, I told them to stay focused and don’t let their clear advantage make them dizzy. We managed to stay in control very well afterwards, not letting Strasbourg have too much of the ball. I’m obviously delighted with this deserved success. We won all our games by at least two goals difference, and this was the case again today.”

- Jacques Faty : «All credit for that success should be given to the “Kids”. I only played in the final, and they did all the hard work qualifying us for the Stade de France. I was delighted to be part of such a celebration in a stadium were I saw my idol, Lilian Thuram, being crowned just like me today. I’m slightly disappointed as I don’t think I had an outstanding performance today, but I had much pleasure playing this 90 minutes.”

- William Stanger : «Winning here, in the Stadium where France became World Champion, it is simply fabulous. It reminds me pictures of the World Cup. Seeing all these people applause us is a joy and a pleasure I could not imagine. After our U-18 France Champion title last year, it’s our second trophy in two years. What a delight!”

- Florent Chaigneau : «Taking the edge quickly as we did was ideal for us. We managed to stay perfectly in control and remain serene in the second half. After the U17 World Champion title in 2001 and the France title last year, it’s three trophies in three years! This starts to look like a nice palmares, even though I hope it won’t stop there. The Cup is a really high-pressured event and the outcome is never certain. This large victory was fully deserved in view of our record in the competition.”

- Jimmy Briand : «We’re so happy with this success. It confirms our ability. Our first half was simply a dream, with all our chances converted to goals. Strasbourg, on the other hand, did not really enter in the game, and we could profit of it. I hope this success will be the first of many, as I would really not want it to be the last.”

- Jonathan Bru : «We managed a really high-level game. Our three goals in less than then minutes, at the end of the first half, have set us completely free. At half-time, the coach told us to keep the pressure. We then decide to continue attacking. We have great forwards who love to play wide, and the pitch was perfect for them. Playing in the Stade de France, this is absolutely breathtaking!”

- Yoann Gourcuff : «This was a grand final, very pleasant to play. I would like to have a thought towards my team-mates who couldn’t take part tonight. I dedicate them the victory. It belongs to the group as a whole. We managed to stay focused all along the game, and win the nice way. My father, Christian, had won this trophy. I’m very happy to join him in the palmares, especially as he was present in the Stade de France tonight.”