Interview. Handball. Maxime Langevin: “I’m in a spiral that’s hard to get out of”

At 28, Maxime Langevin should be in the shape of his life. The right back of Caen Handball is actually going through the worst period of his career. While his team continues to perform well, he languishes on the bench. His playing time is very low and his appearances on the pitch, he agrees, struggle to convince. Far from the 90 goals (3.75 per game) he scored during his last Proligue season, Maxime Langevin is only 14 goals in 18 games this season. His success rate has melted (32%) and doubt has taken hold of him. The former captain of the club necessarily suffers from this situation.

Sport in Caen: Maxime, what do you think of your situation this season at Caen Handball?

Maxime Langevin: It is complicated. I was hopeful this season because there was no reason for it to go wrong. From the start, it didn’t go as I hoped, or as the club hoped I guess. I had very short periods of play, so I didn’t have much time to express myself. I haven’t performed well in those short periods either. Afterwards, there was a negative gear that I couldn’t get out of. The coach didn’t help me too much either. I asked twice for an interview. We said we were going to change things, but nothing has moved. I quickly realized that I no longer really fit into the project.

It feels like you didn’t really get on the bandwagon when the team started performing…

The team was doing well and continues to do well, so it’s true that the choices are right sportingly. There is nothing to say about it. I did not know how to grasp the collective performances. Individually, I remained a little stuck. Afterwards, it’s a spiral from which it is difficult to get out.

“It took me by surprise”

Lack of trust seems to make everything more complicated.

I’m not a player who can come in at the 55th minute and win the game. I need to stay on the field, not be out after a failure. Unfortunately, I was managed like that this season. I think the way I’m used doesn’t suit my style of play. Those are choices, I respect them, but this kind of situation can’t suit me. It is complicated.

Is it all the more difficult to feel left out sportingly when the band is touring?

It’s the first time in Caen that I’ve been in such a long negative spiral. There are also a lot of seasons where everything went well from A to Z. It took me a bit by surprise and I didn’t really know how to find the solutions. It’s always frustrating because you want to participate in the good results. Then it’s sports. There are seasons with and seasons with. It’s a season without. We will have to learn the lessons of all this.

“There is no training-match transfer”

Isn’t there, however, a defensive problem about you? We know that defense has never been your strong point…

It may have worked. Afterwards, since I have been in Caen, there has always been a winger or a full-back defending in my position. Émilien (Deschamps) is capable of defending in 2 and I in 1. Of course I cannot defend and attack at fullback. I understand that it could be a difficulty in the continuity of the game, in the changes, but that can’t be an excuse either.

What have you tried to do to find your place?

It’s complicated because I have very good weeks of training. Everything is going well in training, I play my game, the players are happy, the coach is happy. There is no training-match transfer that is created. It’s surely mental, it’s surely in my use. I think I have the level to play in Proligue. This year, there is something that does not pass. I think there was a blockage quite quickly. It failed to unlock. I quickly understood that the choices were already made without me. From the moment I understand that, it’s more complicated to be all the time, even if I try to do the maximum.

Aren’t you too resigned to this?

Not at all. I am always the first to believe in it until the end. Afterwards, there are still many signs that do not deceive. Without being resigned, I quickly understood that it was complicated.

” Hope ? I don’t know if that’s the word…”

Do you hope it will turn out in the second half of the season, you who have already proven things in Proligue?

Today, I have the impression that I am being used as if I had never played in the Proligue, as if I had never had a good season. This is also what is frustrating. I think I have already demonstrated in the past that I was capable. I am being used as if I were an 18 year old. Do I have hope? I don’t know if that’s the word. I will fight and I will take what I have to take until the end of the season. I try to be more relaxed about it, because it still drained me well this year.

You are also experiencing this situation in your lifelong club, you who are from Caen and who have even been captain of this team…

If I was at another club, with no particular ties, I think the situation would be easier to manage. Here, it’s a whole story, it’s a whole environment. This is the hardest thing for me to deal with.

How do you plan for the future?

(To smile) Mystery! It’s a little early to know. I’m out of contract. My future remains unresolved.