Queens Park Rangers manager Julien Stephan is channelling the spirit of his greatest managerial triumph as he prepares his side for a daunting FA Cup third-round trip to West Ham United.
From Parisian Glory to West London Challenge
The French coach, 45, famously masterminded one of the great cup upsets in 2019, guiding Stade Rennais to a penalty shootout victory over Thomas Tuchel's Paris Saint-Germain in the Coupe de France final. His Rennes side, featuring Ismaila Sarr and Hatem Ben Arfa, came from two goals down to defeat a star-studded PSG line-up including Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Angel di Maria.
"It is a long, long time ago," Stephan reflected with a smile. "I will have the memory of that win in my head all my life. It was a fantastic moment because it was my first title - and the only one for the moment in my career. It is very difficult to win titles."
However, the manager insists that past glory must now fuel a new adventure. "I keep that for me and now it is a new adventure," he stated, focusing squarely on the task at West Ham's London Stadium.
Confronting QPR's Notorious FA Cup Curse
Stephan's proud personal cup history, which includes a footballing lineage as the son of Guy Stephan, assistant to France's 2018 World Cup-winning team, contrasts starkly with the dismal FA Cup record of the club he joined last summer.
QPR, the 1982 FA Cup finalists, endured a horrific 17-year spell at the start of the century where they won only two ties. This period featured a nightmarish run of 10 consecutive defeats, beginning with a 4-0 thrashing at bankrupt, bottom-of-League-Two Swansea City in 2002. The misery was compounded by a penalty shootout loss to Northern League part-timers Vauxhall Motors.
The Hoops have also been eliminated at the third-round stage in each of the last three seasons, a trend Stephan is desperate to end. "I know a couple of things [about the record]!" he admitted. "I love football and I have watched FA Cup games in the past. I know it is something special for the fans."
"Enjoy the Moment" - Stephan's Message to His Players
Despite sitting a respectable 11th in the Championship, just three points off the playoff places, QPR face a significant challenge. They will be without top scorer Rumarn Burrell until March and are up against Premier League opposition.
Stephan's philosophy for causing an upset is clear. "I will tell the players: Just enjoy the moment," he revealed. "When you play away in a big, big stadium against a big Premier League team, first you have to enjoy the moment. Don't play with pressure - be light in your head and light in your legs."
He emphasised the importance of focus, adding: "Be focussed on the details because if you don't manage the details, it is impossible to create something crazy at the end of the game."
The manager confirmed he will field his strongest available side, acknowledging the gulf in class but retaining belief in the magic of the cup. "We know there is a big, big difference between the Premier League and the Championship - this will be the best team we face this season - so we need to be very humble," Stephan concluded. "But you never know what can happen in football."
