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
