They are experiencing their first European team championships. Flavien Coton, 17, and Thibault Poret, 21, play the role of substitutes in this competition in Zadar, Croatia. They have not yet been lined up on the scoresheet but must be ready and can come into play at any time. For RMC Sport, they talk about this start of the competition and their role.
Under the Zadar sun, at the edge of the swimming pool at the Hôtel des Bleus, Thibault Poret and Flavien Coton, suitcase in hand, ready to go to training, are smiling. Since last Sunday, they have discovered the European team championships, where they signed their first selection.
“We are here to adapt to them,” summarizes Thibault Poret. By being “replacements” for this French team, behind the Lebrun brothers and Simon Gauzy, the two new members of the group must fulfill a particular role. That, already, of training partners. “We try to put them in the best conditions. If there is someone who wants to play against Flavien, or against me, we are there to meet their needs,” emphasizes Poret, 21 years old. “There, we had two days of training where we didn't have a match, so we trained a bit normally like daily, I would say. And then before the matches, those who want to play with us, they ask us. Also depending on the opponents they are going to play, to suit the styles of play, etc.,” adds Flavien Coton, 17 years old.
They are essential to this collective. “They help us a lot. They are always available. If we need to come and train a little earlier, a little later, they are always there,” emphasizes Simon Gauzy. But both must also be prepared to come into play at any time. In the event of a sporting choice by Nathanaël Molin, the coach, or in the event of one of the three starting players withdrawing. For this, they do additional ping sessions. “They don't have quite the same program as the others. Because they are going to train more. When there is the match, obviously they are at the match. But, after the match, the others went to recuperate, they on the other hand, Flavien and Thibaut, went to train, to retrain”, explains Molin. Their rigor is underlined by the entire group. “They try to beat us in every session, so it’s great for training,” relishes Félix Lebrun.
“Maybe our chance will come”
Training and more training… but they are still starting to feel tingly in their legs. “We are there, we watch the guys, we see them playing, playing well, we want to do the same, try to reproduce the same thing. But maybe our luck will come as the competition progresses, we don’t know,” hopes Thibault, originally from Normandy.
There is also experience to be gained through this first selection in the senior team for Flavien Coton, the youngest in the group. “We also try to think more about the future, to tell ourselves that we have to train to eventually earn our place. There, we know that the place is difficult to get since the three won an Olympic medal together, they are all three in the top 20 in the world. We try to continue training and show that we are not giving up.”
Support their teammates
But their role is much more than just being training partners. Because their presence is also important on the bench, behind the table, during the meeting. “Support, discuss when necessary, be silent when necessary. Overcome the problems that we might have. If there is a lack of water, things like that. It’s contributing to the team’s performance. That’s also experienced,” explains the coach. And then give voice when the players need it. “When we are on the bench, we discuss tactics a little with Nathanaël or, for example, Simon, on Monday against Hungary, he needed to be pushed a little for his match because he had not made a start as hoped. So, he needed a little support. That's what we tried to give him. At the start of the match he told us: 'Guys, I need a little encouragement.' That’s what we tried to do and put these things in place around Simon,” describes Thibault Poret.
Then there is their role outside the room, in the daily life of the group. “I try to bring a little joie de vivre. Talk a little outside of everything with the guys to get them out of the competition, not stay focused on the tournament all the time,” smiles Thibault Poret. They are a group of five players but Thibault and Flavien are also a duo. “We have a double room for ten days,” laughs Poret. “We have to put up with each other, towards each other. I'm a babysitter, he's 17, you have to tuck him in at night,” quips the oldest. “I don’t know if at the end of the competition, I could still see it,” adds Flavien. There is no denying that they are living this new experience to the fullest and in a good mood.
