Central defender Yanis Leriche, 21, experienced an unforgettable moment, as reported by Ouest France and relayed by Le Parisien, during the draw for the Round of 32 of the Coupe de France: his club, Vendée Fontenay Foot, will face Paris Saint-Germain. A lifelong PSG supporter, he already grasps the magnitude of this almost surreal encounter.
Leriche: “What a thrill!”
“What a thrill! It’s rare for an amateur player to have the chance to face PSG, and now we’re going to play against the reigning European champions, it’s crazy! I might even be up against Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, and I’ll have the chance to meet my idol, Willian Pacho, who is the same age as me.”
Leriche: “The goal is to hold out as long as possible without conceding a goal.”
“The goal is to hold out as long as possible without conceding a goal, and after that, you never know. Last year, Espaly (National 3) gave PSG a real run for their money. Playing PSG at La Beaujoire or the Parc des Princes will be fantastic either way. The only downside to going to Paris concerns our families, the fans, and everyone in the Vendée region. Not everyone will be able to make the trip, and that’s something to consider.”
The magic of the Coupe de France lies in what it evokes in those who have never experienced professional football. For 21-year-old Yanis Leriche, this Fontenay/PSG match represents more than just a game: it’s an enchanting interlude where an amateur player suddenly finds himself among the stars who have shaped his passion. Facing off against professionals, feeling the rhythm, the precision, the power of a European champion, is already a rare privilege.
Adding the presence of his idols is breathtaking. Regardless of the stadium chosen, Beaujoire or Parc des Princes, the setting won’t detract from the essential: the unique opportunity to play against those he usually admires from behind a screen. Leriche knows that Fontenay won’t have possession or the spotlight, but this type of match reminds us why the Cup remains a treasure: it abolishes distances, even those separating the National 3 from the pinnacle of European football.
