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Handball: "Limoges is a decisive match", assures Usam Nîmes coach David Degouy

Julien Rebichon : « Il ne faut pas réfléchir, et tout donner ». Midi Libre – MiKAEL ANISSET

David Degouy attaches great importance to the last trip of the year (15th day of Starligue), which could make Usam rise in the rankings… or make it fall.

In this terribly dense and tight championship, anything can happen. The proof: according to the results of this weekend, Usam, 11th on the morning of the last day of the first leg, could end the first half of the championship in 6th place… or 14th! On the edge of the European places, or the relegation zone.

Which makes David Degouy, the Nîmes coach, say that this trip to Limoges is “a decisive match. A victory would validate through the ranking all the commitment of the staff and players. We can return to the top 7 halfway through. Where we should be!”

Better, but a balance that remains fragile

Since the international break at the beginning of November, which allowed everything to be put back on the table within the group, the Green team is doing (a little) better: it has three wins, one draw and one defeat, plus an honourable elimination in the Coupe de France.

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But we still feel that the balance remains fragile, like the last match against Cesson, last Friday. A first half in reverse (15-19), a second in the right place (28-28 in the end). “At the price of a point right now in the NHL, getting one back was important and deserved, adds Degouy. If we want to move up a gear, the fight and personal and collective attitudes will be decisive.”

Julien Rebichon: “We managed to raise our heads and our bar a little”

Captain Julien Rebichon is well aware of this: “We questioned ourselves, we changed things, and we managed to raise our heads and our bar a little. Defensively, things are better, we were able to tighten the screws. In Limoges, you mustn't think about it, give your all, and have the ambition to win to create momentum for the second half of the season. Finding yourself in 6th place at Christmas would be a successful first half of the championship in the standings, but in terms of results, it would remain average…”

Who will be the flop of the first half of the season ? Nîmes, Limoges or Chambéry ?

It will also be a question of avoiding the unenviable title of flop of the first leg, which will be played between Limoges, currently 10th, Usam (11th) and Chambéry (13th). Yes, in this Starligue, anything can happen…

Without Pardin, Abdelhak or Gibernon

The injured: this week, Usam lost two left-handers, Abdelhak, operated on Wednesday of the ankle, for a pain that he dragged for a long time and Gibernon, as well as the goalkeeper Pardin, affected in the back…

The group : Soyez, Grosjean (l.), Rebichon (cap), Vincent, Gibelin, Acquevillo, Tobie, Luciano Costa, Derisbourg, Konradsson (who will sign with a Danish club for next season), Sanad, Peyre, Kamtchop-Baril, Poyet, Kaczor.

The holidays : the Nîmois will be on vacation when they get off the bus back from Limoges, Saturday, for two weeks. Resumption Monday January 6, with three tournaments planned before the return of the championship, on February 14 against Chartres.

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Teilor Stone

By Teilor Stone

Teilor Stone has been a reporter on the news desk since 2013. Before that she wrote about young adolescence and family dynamics for Styles and was the legal affairs correspondent for the Metro desk. Before joining Thesaxon , Teilor Stone worked as a staff writer at the Village Voice and a freelancer for Newsday, The Wall Street Journal, GQ and Mirabella. To get in touch, contact me through my teilor@nizhtimes.com 1-800-268-7116