Here’s a breakdown of the interview, focusing on the key themes and the coach’s responses:
Player Selections:
Participation: The coach confirms he participated in player selections, working collaboratively with Erwan and Kévin, and that they made decisions together.
Captains and Assistants:
Decision Process: The coach has not yet made a decision on the captain and assistants. He plans to speak with all players and then make the decision jointly with Dako and Erwan. He emphasizes that this is not the most vital thing today.
Team Focus (Offense vs. Defense):
Balanced Approach: The coach wants a team that is both offensive and defensive.
Offensive Mindset: He desires an offensive mindset, encouraging players to be unafraid, skate constantly, and apply pressure.
Defensive Structure: He also stresses the importance of being arduous to play against, notably in the neutral zone and without the puck. He wants a structured defense, acknowledging that they will face teams stronger on paper.
Winning Mentality: The overarching goal is for the team to play to win and not apologize for being there.
Player expectations (state of Mind and Cohesion):
Positive Attitude: Players are expected to arrive with a positive attitude and a desire to improve daily.
Motivation and effort: They should be motivated and in good shape every day, with their playing time being earned.
Team Strategy (Building on Past or Starting Fresh):
Evolution, Not Revolution: The coach doesn’t plan to change everything. He respects Dako’s previous work and vision.
adaptation for Success: However, he acknowledges that they need to play differently because they didn’t win last season. This implies a need for a slightly altered game mode.
League Ranking Expectations (Synerglace League Magnus):
Focus on Motivation: the coach downplays the importance of the exact ranking, stating that a good position will be achieved if the team has motivation.
Team spirit and Motivation as Priorities: The main objectives are team spirit and motivation.
Commitment to Hard Work: He cannot promise wins but promises hard work and a constant effort to win every match.
Development of Young Players (U20, U18, Blue Licenses):
key Objective: Developing young players is a stated goal.
Duty and Growth: The team aims to give young players responsibility and playing time to foster their growth as players.
Expectations for Planning Matches:
Winning mentality: The coach views all matches, including preparation games, as opportunities to win.
* Focus on Attitude and Heart: He will be observing players’ attitudes, their willingness to play with heart, and their commitment to playing with intensity.
