I just got back from France this afternoon, so wanted to congratulate OM and its supporters for their victory on Thursday. Over the two games you were the better team by far. It's no excuse for Newcastle to complain about injuries - a club of our size ought to have better players in reserve. I am sorry we waited until Thursday to play one of our worst games of the season, but I think that OM would have beaten even our full strength team. The atmosphere at the Velodrome was fantastic. We got a bit worried when your fans seemed to be trying to burn the stadium down, however! Before and after the game the OM fans were very friendly. I hope you go on to win the cup. Even the CRS couldn't spoil things. After the game, one or two of them were trying to provoke trouble with the Newcastle fans but fortunately it didn't seem to work. They also seemed to be trying to spoil things down at the Quai des Belges later in the evening.
Congratulations OM but you will be playing one of the best teams in Europe right now in the final. You'd better have the right strategy to win.
FC Valence is a very impressive team, that will be very hard, but not impossible. We are not favorite, but on only one match, all is possible!!!!