Toulouse. Xavier Noguera: “The team has stepped up”
Undefeated since November 20, 2021, the TMB players, big favorites for the title, have just lined up a series of 18 consecutive victories. On the eve of the first leg, Xavier Noguera, their coach, confides.
Xavier, you face La Tronche Meylan in the final. You had time to prepare for the meeting…
Yes. With these play-offs which, we will say, give endless weeks of rest. It’s the same for the two teams who therefore had time to regenerate as well. This allowed us to focus longer than usual on the team we are going to meet.
You have beaten La Tronche Meylan three times this season if we include the Coupe de France. Should these games be taken out of your mind?
I don’t remember. I do not look at why these matches which are behind because, as I said at the start of the play-off, it is a new championship which begins. I think La Tronche has found a new balance since the last four games of the regular season. It’s a more dangerous team than before. We have to focus on what we know how to do. And do it better!
The small room of La Tronche promises to be hot for the return…
We are actually going to play at the Pôle Sud ice rink in Grenoble in fact. This is going to be a great promotion for the women’s basket. The room holds 3500 people I believe. In an ice rink it will be a bit special for everyone.
A success in Grenoble would prevent you from celebrating the title at home during a beautiful…
I can’t see that far! There is a first home game that we will have to manage to negotiate. We know it won’t be easy. La Tronche had a very good series in the quarters and halves. They are going to want to come here to make a result. It is up to us to put ourselves in the right position to achieve a result.
A quick word on Isabelle Strunc who made excellent play-offs.
It’s the whole team. Isabelle and the other experienced players have increased their volume of play. The team has stepped up. This is what is important.
The TMB has the best defense in the championship while being the team that commits the fewest faults. There is no secret ?
You have to work. Afterwards, we saw that it was different in each match. On one had small problems on certain quarters. It is a daily job. This is a project where everyone must register.