Romania captain Mihai Macovei is in his sixth season at Colomiers, where he is likely to end his career. He confides in his very recent return to competition and on this particular exercise.
You started for the first time this season at Carcassonne after almost two months of absence. What happened to you ?
In Aurillac in mid-September, I entered during the match and I felt an intense pain on a support in the arch of the foot and the heel of my right foot which forced me to leave. In fact, it had been two weeks since I had inflammation.
You are back now. We imagine that you could not wait to put on your crampons and find the ground …
Oh yes ! Especially since I was disturbed in the summer preparation, I could not take part in the friendly matches due to a sprain of the internal ligament of a knee contracted during training. I just got two wounds but now it’s over.
This recovery is taking place in a difficult health context due to several cases of Covid in the group. Which did not allow you to prepare well for the meeting against Carcassonne …
We had a bit of a weird past week. Monday and Tuesday we trained in groups of three, just doing physical, and we could not do a single collective training during the set-up on Saturday, the day before our match. There were a lot of changes in the squad, but we had no choice. A lot of young players from the training center and especially the Hopes were called upon.
And despite the short defeat, there is nothing to be ashamed of …
Yes, I found the young people concentrated and with a great desire to play and have fun without pressure. We must not forget that for some it has been a while since they train with us and that they are integrated. We trust them and it is mutual. Those who played showed character and no one took off.
There are now three receptions, including the first this Friday, Rouen before Oyonnax then Nevers. It’s a strong program …
These are three big oppositions. Starting with Rouen, which progresses from exit to exit and picks up speed. Like their draw in Aix-en-Provence, then their short defeat at Oyonnax. We will have to put things in order.
What about the Romanian selection?
We hope to be able to play in February and March because these will be the qualifications for the next World Cup in France in 2023. It would be so special to play it here… The problem is that the health situation is currently not good In Romania…
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