Interview with the New TFC Coach: Plans, Expectations, and the Upcoming Challenges

“How do you feel as the new TFC coach replacing Philippe Montanier?
I am very happy to be here. I thank the club for trusting me. I am very happy with the proposed challenge. With the staff, we can find a good balance. Everyone talks about Toulouse as a data club, of course we use it, but this club is above all a human club. I also want to emphasize the importance of the training center. We often talk about signing good players to perform even better, but I was surprised at the level of the Pitchounes. The first time I met them during the training camp in Turkey (during the last World Cup), I was surprised by their quality and their investment.

How were your first days as a head coach and what was the first assignment you did?
Yesterday (Tuesday), I spoke quite a bit with the players, of course. Rasmus (Nicolaisen) came into my office and asked me if he should call me “Carles” or “coach”.

How far would you like to take the TFC this season?
The focus is to transmit competitiveness all the time to the players. We want to be at the highest level of competition possible. We will have difficult moments but it is in these moments that we must survive. Of course, we want to win matches, perform all the time. But that’s the end. First, you have to help and accompany each player. Yesterday we spoke with the players, they and the staff must always be there to work and surpass themselves during each collective or individual exercise. The perception of football is often like a team sport. Tactically, I’m known for being very rigorous, but the combination of fun and tactics is going to see us do some good things.

“At Barça, we always talked about time and space. If we can get to the important areas with more time and more space, that’s even more positive.”

What is the game you want to implement and what needs to change to improve? Surely all coaches want the same thing, to have the ball and dominate, even if some are comfortable under pressure, because they are confident in their counters. Me my feeling is rather: “Ah, I see my team suffering, I suffer too”. So, sometimes, we analyze opponents, but it’s difficult to really know, because we want to surprise them and them too. In any case, we use the right tools to succeed. Compared to our game, we like to have the ball and dominate. Details down to the meter are extremely important. If we try to keep an opponent 3 meters away, it’s not 4, it’s 3. I try to push every detail for the players. At Barça, we always talked about time and space. If you can get to the important areas with more time and more space, that’s even more positive. We have to find the right time and the right space because we have talented players who will know how to make the best use of them.

What do you expect from the upcoming preparation?
You have to try to dominate every aspect, defensive and offensive. We want to play the way we want. There are two ways to control the game, with the ball, which is what I prefer, and without the ball, by getting the opponent to places where you want them to play.

What do you think of your team’s schedule?
The first matches will be difficult. Nantes (1st day) a good club which will want to show a lot of things this year. And then PSG as the first match for us, so much the better, it will be a good challenge, a good test to gauge yourself. We’ll have to show up. Anyway, we have to play against every club. »

2023-07-05 18:06:22
#Carles #Martinez #Novell #Toulouse #ball #dominate