France In Toulouse, Romain Ternel is swimming in a rejuvenating bath Monday, November 15, 2021: Stats and info
Since last summer and his return to Toulouse to settle in the surrounding countryside with his wife, he shares, among other things, the passion for horses, Romain Ternel savor to the fullest his new life. He could have pulled a little more on the rope and added another line or two more to his record of player but his friends Danijel Andjelkovic, Rémi Calvel and the president Philippe Dallard ended up convincing him. Why not share his experience with younger than him? After sixteen years with the pros where through five clubs (Lille-Villeneuve d’Ascq, Cesson, Tremblay, Toulouse, Limoges), he will have experienced all the sensations, becoming the manager of the Fenix Training Center. The man is happy in this rejuvenation even if … “At the start of the season, I didn’t have too much visibility on what the N1 championship was going to be. Because first of all, I didn’t know him at all and we were restarting after two seasons disrupted by the Covid. We saw in July that teams like Antibes for example, did not train and then the level started to rise and that’s when physically, we took a little bit. “ Indeed, after an initial clear round (4 successes in as many matches), the Gardois de Bagnols came to win in the pink city and six days later, the Fénix reserve bowed to Draguignan. “A sudden stop …” But that does not undermine the determination, the morale of the former center-half who, like his colleagues from Team One, has to compose with a few injuries (Didelot, Gardent). And this Saturday, for the return on its grounds, Toulouse found Montpellier. Not easy to recover. “When you face Montpellier, you face the club which has what is done best as a training center in France. It is a real gas factory to come out of the nuggets. It’s someone like Fred Anquetil (now assistant to Jérôme Diaz on the bench of Hérault minots) which made me want to become a coach one day. For my players, there was a desire to redeem, a desire to achieve a perf. “ The Fenix starts at full speed (3-0 in the 6th), is caught up just before the break (12-12), sticks out his tongue under the impacts of the MHB (15-18 in the 41st) and then we think that they are going to give in and take a nice one, the burst of pride comes at the right time. With timely stops of Kylian ferrier, the banderillas of Quentin Didelot (7 goals including three in 2 minutes and a group that has changed. “We managed to recover from the defensive aggressiveness at the right time, insists the coach. They lose some balls that we use, Quentin relieves us because we have been evolving without left-handed since the start of the season. While at the start of 2nd, it started all over the place, at the end, however, we showed a certain solidity. “ And despite in front, the 11 stops of Charles Bolzinger, Toulouse emerges victorious from its duel (26-21). Romain Ternel him, take advantage of the moment.
Not for him but for this bunch of young people, some of whom could be his nephews. “The most important thing is to be able to assess the boys in these weekend games, to confront them against other centers and against opponents of the same age. “ Even if the Nationale 1 is not the laboratory of the training centers of professional clubs. Far from it because in many places, like the project led by Jean Paul Onillon and Philippe Gardent near Bordeaux-Bruges-Lormont, the N1 is the club’s launching pad. “My job, pursuit of Toulouse, it is not to become champion of France of N1 but that among these guys, the greatest number integrates a pro team. And to stand out from the crowd, they must not forget that this involves collective exploits. They have to work a lot, but also have the feeling of belonging to something that sublimates them, to values and to fighting for a jersey, it’s a great idea. My goal is to maintain it, the players are the masters of their ambition. “ It is not at all certain that the Albouys, Briets (Baptiste, Thibaut’s little brother, the Nantais), Giraudeau, Laurent de Valors and other Firms do not want to hang out in the depths of pool 5 of N1. For now, it is Robin Capelle’s Ajacciens who are leading the way with a head start over Toulouse, Montpellier and La Crau (Hauts-Garonnais’ next opponent).
The staff of the Fenix Toulouse Training Center
CF Director: Alain Raynal
Head Coach: Romain Ternel
Goalkeeper coach: Frédéric Pérez
Physical trainer: Romain Ganot
Physiotherapist: Jeremy Cau
Matis Keep … Tou-lou-sane above all!
In Toulouse, this confrontation against Montpellier coincided with the return of Quentin Didelot (recovered from a dislocated shoulder) and Matis Keep (cracks in the patellar tendon which led to an injection of blood platelets). When on Saturday, he appeared on the floor, he only had four training sessions in his legs and one last official match during the first day played against Antibes, on September 12. The barely 22-year-old guy with the sapper’s beard was like a caged lion, eager to hurtle down the stands and jump on the 40×20.
So Matis, this recovery?
I don’t seduce any more. When you are a player, you sit very badly in the stands. You see the friends getting high, you, you are there, helpless, you ruminate, you want to cut corners but reason prevail. You are chomping at the bit and the day you are given the green light, you go for it without asking yourself too many questions.
Montpellier to come back, it’s not bad …
It is the coincidence of the calendar even if in my head, I had checked the date. I wanted to be present at the bottom, on the sheet, even if you had to grit your teeth, whatever the playing time. There was a physical preparation but on the mental side, it was much stronger. I don’t want to continue to feel left out.
At certain times, did your doubts almost take over and you wanted to stop everything?
Of course and it is still relevant today. It depends a lot on my body. Let’s say that there, I played a match and it’s already taken. There might be another one, then another, I’m not drawing any plan. I’m here first and foremost to help the team and we’ll see where that takes me.
You have a special status here …
Yes, I don’t have a contract! I’m going to make people smile but it doesn’t matter, I’m bound by … the love of the jersey. The Fénix welcomed me when I needed it, when I didn’t have a center (Chambéry had not chosen it). I have memory and the relationship that exists is not a piece of paper. This jersey is important to me.
You arrive here, two years after Philippe your father …
Yes and ?
Evil tongues said, it’s thanks to dad …
(Smiles) Unpretentious, I invite everyone who thinks I’m here because of him to come to the next game. I am ready to engage in discussion with them.
Are you in hand as in other sports, one of the countless “sons of…”?
Yes and I will not apologize for it. This has been with me since I practice hand. Even when he was in Paris! Afterwards, I am “the son of…” who has not necessarily succeeded, especially if you compare to Richardson, Mahé or Gaudin. But hey, sincerely, I no longer listen to this kind of thinking. When I arrived in Toulouse (in 2017), I may have had some fears in training, when I came back to the matches, in the end, I don’t think I stole anything. I’m not going to put more pressure on myself because my name is Gardent. The best answer is that by having more fun, I make my contribution on the field.
Are contacts frequent?
Of course. The dialogue is permanent. We’re not just talking about the hand (laughs). He is finally not far but I do not intend to join him.
Exactly, how do you see the rest?
I repeat, I can quit overnight. This summer, I received some proposals (especially Proligue clubs) but it is in Toulouse that I feel good, I love this city and I continue my studies there.
In which domain ?
(Smiles). Journalism !
Nothing to do with the hand …
I still made a deal with Romain. He asked me to accompany the youngest and that I pass on to them what I received when I was at the center. I like to chaperone the new ones, on the ground but also outside if there, there is sometimes a gap because I do not have all the codes (laughs).
The slideshow of the match of N1 Fenix Toulouse – Montpellier HB by Yves Michel