What was the program during the international break?
We loaded up physically at the start of last week, over six training sessions, then we chose to give recovery time. Players need to recharge their batteries psychologically from time to time, to cut back a little. Especially since the schedule will be busy between now and the end of the year, with seven matches, and even eight including the Coupe de France.
We tried to adapt our system as best as possible to the characteristics of our players. There it is, the key.
So, we built our program with that in mind. We also had five players in selection. Depending on playing time and workload, we adapted their start to the week.
How do you judge the evolution of the team?
We are starting to have solid foundations. I find us more serene, more sure of ourselves. We found a good balance. I feel the players are involved in the project we are asking for. Which makes me rather optimistic for the future.
Adrian Figueras injured, big party in Nantes, Milan Bomastar player of the month… The echoes before Nantes – Chartres, this Friday
In October, you built your three victories on defense, even though you had suffered in this sector previously. How did this change come about?
We had already had interesting matches on the defensive level during the preparation, even if it was not always over 60 minutes. But the Montpellier match (22-38 in the opening) hurt us, we dropped a lot of balls that evening and we got punished.
Scoring one more goal than the opponent sometimes requires defense, but we can’t always win that way either.
We started to doubt a little, we weren’t really sure of the direction in which we should go. But we were able to find solutions. And it was really very good against Ivry (29-24), Cesson (27-28), Aix (24-27) and even Paris, on defense (27-34 defeat). We tried to adapt our system as best as possible to the characteristics of our players. There it is, the key.
The salvation of a team like yours necessarily involves defense?
There is not just one philosophy. Scoring one more goal than the opponent sometimes requires defense, but we can’t always win that way either. So, we also work offensively. But if we continue in this direction, I think we will win a lot of matches.
So far, what do you think was the most successful match?
I will say that of Cesson. Aix too was solid, but we had ten or twelve complicated minutes in attack. Winning at Cesson is not easy, and in fact Chartres has never done it (editor’s note: not since 2016).
Opening of the Coliseum in Chartres: a financial and sporting challenge for clubs
Have you set a goal for the upcoming block of matches?
I don’t have a quantified objective, no. We take it game by game. I tell and repeat to the players that we must produce what we prepare during the week, and if we respect the project, that we apply ourselves, then we will win, and much more than they think. But I don’t think about a number of points or a ranking. What matters to me is the application of our project.
Can the CCMHB spoil the party in Nantes?
The Chartrains will perform this Friday evening at the H Arena, where the atmosphere promises to be electric: 5,902 supporters are expected to celebrate the 70th anniversary of HBC Nantes. Normally, it’s already rock’n’roll (the theme of the evening) to go and challenge the H in its lair, and the CCMHB knows something about it, having never brought anything back from Loire-Atlantique . So if the people of Nantes also find extra motivation in the decorum of a gala evening…
“We will have to play a more than perfect match to hope to win it,” said Nebojsa Stojinovic, the Chartres coach, on Thursday morning, eager to maintain the good momentum of October (three victories), but well aware of the magnitude of the challenge, among “a team programmed to play for first place.”
premium Matic Groselj after the C’Chartres MHB – Ivry match: “It was tough physically”
In the role of the small versus the big, Chartres will also have to manage a lack of weight. While it had just regained a full squad, with the return to play of Vadim Gayduchenko, the CCMHB lost Adrian Figueras during the international break. If we still do not know the exact nature of his injury (meniscus), and therefore his duration of unavailability, the Spaniard is forfeited for the trip to Nantes, where Hugo Jund will have to hold the pivot position, almost alone.
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