Norman Derby: after dark months, Caen fans are happy to meet Le Havre’s neighbor

Caen fans included him in their huge list of Santa Clauses, which filled the entire stand of the Ornano stadium before the match with Dunkirk on December 16: “Go to Le Havre for the French Cup.” This Sunday, January 7, at least a thousand people will cross the Normandy Bridge to see their team take on neighboring Le Havre, today one of the elite. “I was curious to see who we would face,” recalls Olaf, president of the Malherbe Normandy Kop (MNK). And here, Le Havre! This is not a match like any other. It’s exciting.”

Ahead of the holidays, SM Caen’s core group of supporters opened registration for the trip under government-controlled conditions: 1,000 grandstand seats for visitors and limited bus travel only. “I had to go there by car with my father and son. The situation in the organization is tense, but this is not a hindrance,” says Fabien, who has supported Kahn for more than thirty years. The enthusiasm was immediately confirmed: within a few hours all the places were occupied. “I wanted to surprise my 14-year-old son for Christmas,” admits Claire. Well, he saw me do it and he understood. This will be his first derby. This is exceptional! »

Thus, 2024 will start strong for the marijuana community, as if to make us forget the gloom of the last few months: a great start, then an endless streak of about ten matches without a win, a game in complete disintegration and the exile of former coach Jean-Marc Furlan . Not to mention the difficult news behind the scenes amid controversial leadership and shareholder reforms. “Given the results, there could have been fewer people,” agrees Fabien. But it’s a derby, we’re all here! It’s a good break and if Kahn wins it could give them a boost going forward. »

In sporting terms, the reunion promises to be difficult for Basse-Normandie, on the field of a team now hierarchically superior, which also returned convincingly to Ligue 1. But the followers of SM Caen believe in the feat in this 32nd final. like Olaf: “The level will be equivalent. Cup or not, it’s a special match to win. And then it will be close to the heart of Nicholas Seube, who played in it as a player and knows the value of the derby.” The new Rouge et Bleu coach, appointed at the end of November, has been with the club since 2001. According to fans, his herbal DNA could change the balance of power.

This Sunday at 10:45 in front of the Michel d’Ornano stadium a meeting was scheduled to fill the 17 (!) coaches who will go to Le Havre. The NOC hopes that no prefectural decree will ban last-minute travel, amid tensions surrounding supporters’ trip to France. Apart from this administrative issue, the Caen public is in the stands: “It will be even more like a party because there will be less pressure on the result. We sing even in defeat, but we have chances. We must live this moment and forget what has happened in recent months,” Claire projects. “It will be a great match on the field and in the stands,” Olaf promises. The result is a lot of downvotes and perhaps a qualification conducive to some neighborly teasing with the residents of Le Havre.