Underdog status wasn’t a problem for the Montreal Alouettes in the Eastern final last week, and it shouldn’t be a problem in Sunday’s Gray Cup final against the Blue Winnipeg Bombers.
“Last week we were the neglected ones,” looter Marc-Antoine Dequoy recalled in an interview with LCN on Friday morning.
“No pundit, not even from the Quebec media, gave us a chance against Toronto and that can be understandable,” he continued. It was a team that posted the best record in its history at 16-2. The same goes for Winnipeg, they’ve been in the Gray Cup for four years in a row, you could say it’s the start of a dynasty. It’s a very well-coordinated team.”
But that’s exactly what a group of players like the Alouettes needs.
“We say to ourselves: ‘If you want to be the best team, you have to beat the best team,'” explained the Quebec athlete. We think we are the best team, but right now Winnipeg, with their stats and record, are the ones that prove they are the best. There is no better challenge for us than winning the Gray Cup.”
A first in 13 years
In the meantime, the team is preparing for the big night in Hamilton under new conditions.
“It’s pretty special, especially working in the same routine, in the same facility for 22 weeks and arriving here the week of the Gray Cup, where it’s been 13 years since the organization was last formed Dequoy admitted.
“We have a few veterans who have experienced this, but for most of us it is new and very different,” he added. The demands of the media, the appearances we have to do, it’s still crazy, but you try to make the best of it and stay focused on the task at hand.”
“It’s impressive and much more demanding than you think,” he summed up afterwards.
Regardless, Dequoy, like most soccer fans in Quebec, dreams of a parade in the streets of Montreal next week.
“It would be fun to be on the bus and lift the trophy this time,” he said. I would like to have this experience. Thank you to all supporters for your support. We really feel the love that exists in Montreal.”
Watch the full interview in the main video.