Prior to this latest title, the capital club had reached the Gambardella Cup final on four previous occasions: 1978, 1989, 1991 and 1998. Having won the title in 1991, Paris Saint-Germain returned to winning ways in this iconic competition nearly thirty-five years after their first trophy.
On this occasion, at the invitation of President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, several members of the 1991 winning generation were present at the Stade de France to witness this landmark moment in the history of the Parisian youth academy.
This season, Paris Saint-Germain have enjoyed a remarkable run throughout the competition, driven by a particularly prolific attack. Les Rouge et Bleu kicked off their campaign with a resounding victory over Chartres Football in the first round (8-0), before going on to beat FC Rouen in the round of 32 (6-1) and Le Mans FC in the round of 16 (5-0). In the quarter-finals, the Parisians dominated SM Caen (4-1), before securing their place in the final with a hard-fought semi-final against FC Nantes (3-2).
This victory in the final against Montpellier HSC (3-2), thanks in particular to goals from Younes Idder (12') and Mathis Jangéal (40', 90'), crowned an outstanding run from the youngsters, who lifted the Gambardella Cup and underlined the strength of the Paris academy.
It is a great source of pride to see our U19 generation bring Paris Saint-Germain the second Coupe Gambardella in its history. This title rewards the hard work, commitment and collectivity of our young players, the coaches, and the entire Academy staff. More than a trophy, winning the Coupe Gambardella represents an important milestone for this young generation and a strong symbol of our great Club’s future.
This title rewards the journey and commitment of a group that has shown consistency throughout the competition. The players have grown together over the course of the season and have shown, throughout this campaign, all their quality as well as an exemplary spirit. This Gambardella Cup also marks the end of the training cycle for this 2008 cohort, and seeing these young players conclude their three years at the youth academy with a title at the Stade de France is a source of immense satisfaction. I would also like to pay tribute to the dedication of the staff and all the teams at the youth academy, who support them daily in their development. This victory is a reward for all the work carried out over several seasons with this generation.