With a few months in advance, Nebojsa Stojinovic, the 48-year-old Serbian coach took over as head of the Chartres team, of which he was previously assistant. Interview for Handball magazine and Le Quotidien Du Sport.
How did the former goalkeeper you were want to become a coach?
When I stopped my career as a player, I had a team in U18. So I managed the players at the same time. When I arrived in Chartres, the club’s proposal was to take me on as an assistant. Sometimes when Toni (Gerona, Editor’s note) was absent five to six weeks a year, I led the training sessions, the friendly matches. Few former goalkeepers have become coaches, but there are still some.
And becoming a head coach is something that has been on your mind for a long time?
Since last June, I was enrolled in level 6 training to get the diploma to be a coach. It was therefore obvious that if the opportunity arose I was going to embark on this new profession.
In Chartres, you anticipated your role as head coach a few months before the planned period. What changes in your work?
A lot of things. Depending on the context, we are in the urgency of the results. You have to be able to provide technical and tactical solutions. But we are not going to revolutionize everything either. I do not have a lot of time. You absolutely need results. I want to put new things in place for next year, but I immediately want to rely on the fundamentals, on what the players are used to doing, while modifying a few details and giving players as much confidence as possible.
“For the development of the club, it is essential to stay in the star league”
Are you worried about the club’s situation and do you feel like you’re on the edge?
Worried, I’m not really, but I’m aware of the situation we are in. She is complex. Everyone knows that at the club. There are still matches to be played. We must win as much as possible to ensure our survival. You have to do everything to get out of it.
Do you think that the narrow defeat suffered against Cesson Rennes (21-22) further weakened the morale of the troops?
We noticed that, at the end of the match, we lacked the serenity and confidence to win. We were in place but, in the end, we mostly caught a few shots. It is mainly related to the lack of confidence. It is imperative to quickly reverse the trend. I am convinced that a positive result will trigger a series of good matches.
Does it reassure you to tell you that Istres and Sélestat are in an even more perilous accounting situation?
I don’t watch that too much. I rather tell myself that we have matches ahead of us and that we must win them. We will have to negotiate matches within our reach. If we do what is necessary, we won’t need to look at what Istres and Sélestat are doing. We have our destiny in our hands.
What message are you sending to your players?
My main message is that we have to break free. I also tell the players that they have to play with even more courage. The basis of sport is to give your all. We did quite a bit against Cesson Rennes. If we don’t have that, we have no chance of winning matches. In defense, we must also be more solid and regular. We also need to better control certain balls on phases of fast play.
Nebojsa Stojinovic breaks away from Toni Gerona
What do you want to do differently compared to Toni Gerona?
I try to bring a little different touch. The biggest problem is that players have lost confidence. Afterwards, each of us has our own philosophy. Everyone tries to bring different things. Fundamentally changing the way the team plays doesn’t seem like a good idea to me. Now is not the time to confuse players too much with big changes. On the contrary, it is essential to bring positive energy to generate confidence.
You are attacking your career as a head coach in a particularly complex situation.
The context is indeed not ideal. We know it. If the club was not in this situation, it would be better for everyone. Unfortunately, here we are. We have to move forward and find solutions. You have to think about the things you need to put in place to make it work.
What will you do if the club goes down at the end of the season?
Sincerely, I do not know. I really don’t think about this option.
The challenge is all the more important as there will be a new room in Chartres.
But even if there was no new room, for the development of the club, it is essential to remain at the highest level.
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