''Le doute est commun, qu’on gagne ou qu’on perde. Après, il faut être en capacité d’aller au-delà de ses doutes et trancher.'' MIDI LIBRE – ALEXIS BETHUNE
Tuesday, December 10, at 8 p.m. at the Parnasse, Nîmes welcomes its arch-rival, Montpellier, in the 8th finals of the Coupe de France. David Degouy, who knows both houses well, speaks before the derby.
This season, David Degouy, 44, is the common denominator of the derbies between Usam Nîmes, where he is the new coach, and Montpellier, where he was assistant to Patrice Canayer for six years.
On the eve of this 8th round of the Cup, the technician took some time, after the last training session, to address the past, but also the future.
In two days and as many victories in Starligue, Usam went from relegation to 10th. Is the hardest part behind you ?
No, because the championship is very tough, full of surprises. Now, we are at two victories and the question is how to continue, stay focused on the objectives. Starting with the Coupe de France.
In what state of mind is Nîmes approaching this derby between two championship matches, Tremblay then Cesson, Friday ?
We are on a good dynamic, it is good to play a match because it will give us rhythm, especially against a team like Montpellier. We know that we will give it our all. Before we look ahead, we focus on this Cup match, which is the most important.
The Cup, in each round, is a final. And a final at home against the MHB, that's not bad (smile).
Do the approach and the speech differ between the Cup and the championship ?
On the presentation, the approach, yes. I had a different speech in Nancy (Proligue, 30-28 in the 16th). It is a special competition, where it is played 60 minutes by 60 minutes. There, it is stop or encore, so, inevitably, the approach is different. There is pleasure in playing this type of match, on the edge of a knife each time.
''It is the MHB who have the pressure, because if they get tangled up in the carpet at Parnasse, it could be a blank year''
How to approach a Cup match as an outsider ?
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000The idea will be to give it our all, we are the outsiders on paper. It is the MHB who have the pressure, because if they get tangled up in the carpet at Parnasse, it will perhaps be a blank year. It is a match where the guys want to give their all, to go further.
We will try to have as much fun as possible in this match, by respecting our ambitions, our game plan and, above all, the behaviors and attitudes of each one which, today, are very good. Everyone must do their bit, for their friend and for the team.
After the home defeat against Aix (27-29), president David Tebib announced a reconfiguration of the staff. Three wins and one loss later, what has changed ?
For me, in my work, it hasn't changed anything. In the end, I'm still the one who decides. What really changes is that Yann (Balmossière, the assistant) takes the lead in attack. I'm more on defense.
This allows me to be at 100% on all training sessions and have maximum concentration from all the players, at all times. The reality is that at the very highest level, you have to be able to adapt every day to what happens on the field.
Four and a half months after your arrival at Usam, what differences have you noticed between Nîmes and Montpellier ?
(He thinks) They are two clubs, two cities and two different histories. Two cities that live handball, but not at all in the same way. There are so many cultural differences, I could write a book about them (sic).
Two very rich clubs, in history but also in future, which are in D1, have won titles and count in the panorama of French handball. The fact that they are different brings appeal to the derby.
If this were not the case, it would be sad for our sport and our training, because the interest of derbies, for young players, is that it comes closest, in commitment and emotion, to the very high level.
THE MATCH
USAM IN WORKING ORDER – On the Nîmes side, no change compared to the victorious team (32-28) at Tremblay, Friday, in Starligue. Brazilian left-back Luciano (hand) is still out.
Half-center Boiba Sissoko (cruciate ligaments) continues his re-athleticization. Mohab Abdelhak, for his part, will be present. On October 26, during Usam's defeat (32-38) in Starligue in Montpellier, the Egyptian right-back had shot 12/13! The X factor ?
THE WEAKENED MHB – It is a weakened Montpellier Handball that travels to Nîmes.
Already deprived of Stas Skube and Kyllian Villeminot, its playmakers, the MHB will also have to do without Yanis Lenne (lumbago) and Veron Nacinovic (strain).
Absent in Créteil, last Friday, in the championship, for personal reasons, Ahmed Hesham will however be present to challenge his former club.
Nîmes, the group: Pardin, Soyez (l.). Rebichon (c), Vincent, Gibelin, Acquevillo, Tobie, Abdelhak, Derisbourg, Konradsson, Gibernon, Sanad, Peyre, Kamtchop-Baril, Poyet, Kaczor.
Montpellier, the group: Bolzinger, Desbonnet (l.). Karlsson, Simonet, Cikusa, Fernandez, Pellas, A. Lenne, Prat, Konan, Guigon, Monte, Aho, Porte (c), Hesham, Caille.
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