Toulouse. Objective “Istres” for the Fenix !
The Toulousains continue their preparation with a single objective in mind: to be ready for the resumption of the championship on February 5.
Unhappy finalists in Bordeaux eight days ago, the Toulousains finished third in the Chambéry Tournament after a first defeat against Montpellier on Friday (27-33), and a success against Valence (D2) on Saturday (34-33 on penalties corn). “There were some interesting sequences but the whole remains average”, summarizes Danijel Andjelkovic. The Toulouse coach, who only had eight professionals out of the fifteen players invited, adapted, forced and forced, to the vagaries of the moment between the absences of his internationals and the Covid which continues to pollute the preparation, affecting in particular the assistant coach Rémi Calvel.
Less than a fortnight before the resumption of the championship, on February 5 at home against Istres, the Toulouse staff hope to recover most of their flock during the week. But here again, it will be necessary to juggle with Omicron: the Austrian Tobias Wagner, positive, and the Serbian Uros Borzas, whose father was affected, will undoubtedly have to delay their returns from the European championship. “We have to adapt day by day,” breathes Andjelkovic.
A card to play in the second half of the season
The latter still intends to pursue the targeted areas of work: the 0-6 and 1-5 defense, the relationship between center half Erik Balenciaga and right-back Ayoub Abdi and the fitness of left-back Gonçalo Viera. Absent for long weeks, the young Matthieu Marmier must also resume training tomorrow, at the same time as the Belgian goalkeeper Jef Lettens back from selection. A final gallop of training is scheduled for Saturday, in Tarbes, against the Spaniards of Anaïtasuna. “We hope to have a group that will not be too far from the one who will take over the championship”, wants to believe the Toulouse technician.
Retained with Chile, the rear Erwin Feuchtmann will not be back in time but the Toulouse staff hope to be able to use him for the reception of Istres. “Our goal is to be ready for this game,” said Andjelkovic. For this match and for the rest of the program, which promises to be thrilling: undefeated in their last eight games (5 wins and 3 draws), the Toulouse are in 6th place, just one point behind fourth. And they haven’t said their last word, it seems…