“It’s been my best season,” says Fenix Toulouse’s versatile full-back Erwin Feuchtmann
The Chilean international who shines with his versatility is having a full season in the Toulouse jersey. He will still be a major element, this evening, when challenging Montpellier.
He returned from the recent South and Central American championship crowned with the title of top scorer in the competition where Chile ranked 3rd. Thus confirming his excellent first part of the season with the Fenix Toulouse where, in a few weeks, he has become an indispensable element, able to evolve both on the left and on the right of the rear base, or to occupy the position 3 in the defensive sector to troubleshoot. A true “Swiss Army knife” of the Toulouse team, Erwin Feuchtmann will undoubtedly be one of the men to follow, this evening, against the Montpellier team.
Erwin, you are having an incredible season with Toulouse. Everything is smiling at you, it’s a bit like walking on water.
Yes, it’s a bit like that, it’s not wrong (laughs)! I can feel it, everything is going well for me, it’s linked together, it’s unfolding. It is the fruit of long years of work, of everything I have experienced before, of my experiences, of my struggles! Everything seems easy to me right now but it’s not, believe me, it’s hard work.
Is this your best season since becoming a pro?
Yes, I think it’s the best even if last year, in Léon, it was good too. But this is the one that satisfies me the most.
Danijel Andjelkovic did not hesitate to have you evaluated on several positions. Do you like this versatility?
Ah yes, I love this diversity of roles. Play right, left, defend in the central sector and don’t forget that I also take penalties from time to time! You know, I’m not a centre-half but I know how to adapt. When I had to play as a right-back because we had no more left-handers available (Abdi and Marmier were absent for a long time), I found my marks. Moreover, the coach does not hesitate to have me evaluated for this position at times. This is an interesting option for us.
Toulouse is currently on an excellent series in the league (undefeated for 10 games, 7V and 3N) and on a series of 10 games without defeats (9V and 1N) in all competitions. How do you explain that ?
I believe that the team is very disciplined, perfectly respects the game options. And then it is undeniable that our defense has decreased since the start of the season. We are getting better and better in this sector, our defense is more aggressive and that makes all the difference, it keeps us going.
Are you surprised by this series of results?
A little yes. Beating Berlin in the European League is not nothing. Going to win in Aix and Nîmes in the league, dominating Montpellier at home (32-26, editor’s note) and finding ourselves fourth, of course we did not expect it.
Montpellier, which you are going to challenge tonight, promises a hell of a clash between two teams playing for fourth place.
Ah, that promises indeed. They are not at their best at the moment because they have had quite a few absentees in recent weeks. We know it and they know we know it (laughs). But it’s a great team that will pull themselves together. We will have to be able to seize the slightest opportunity, jump on the slightest opportunity, take advantage of the slightest opening to hope to succeed.