Emmanuel, what do you think will change the new formula – disappearance of the play-offs and title awarded after 26 days – of the championship?
Emmanuel Mayonade:
Trying to take a step back, I'm not sure this is the formula that suits us best for this season.
Our workforce has been greatly modified, we have lost several important players and with this formula, the title could be played as early as September, at a time when some teams are not yet ready.
I imagine a French champion with three or four defeats maximum, and in the event of a delay in ignition with one or two setbacks in September, everything could quickly become very complicated.
Especially since we lost two very important elements of our rotation this summer with Méline Nocandy and Astride N'Gouan who left to strengthen the competition (Paris 92).
Failing to lower the level of Metz, it also had the merit of raising the level of our competitors.
So, what is your goal this season? Are you still one of the champions of the championship?
I hope so.
We are going to fight to defend our title and this status that you speak of.
On the campaign of friendly matches, we had results that are a bit sluggish, but the season will be very long and we are going to fight as we have always done.
I believe in the club culture and I think we created something in this direction last season with the employees, the partners, the volunteers... There was a very strong osmosis and I don't want it to be shattered if the results turn out to be a little worse.
We are all very motivated in the face of competition that has never been stronger.
These friendly matches that you mention were against mainly European opponents, of very good caliber…
It was a strong desire on our part to play against such opponents.
We didn't want to delude ourselves by playing more average opponents.
I didn't want anyone to think it would pass easily.
Our ambition is both the French championship, but also to exist in the Champions League.
And we made sure, in particular with a trip to Denmark, to get to the heart of the matter very quickly.
We wanted to immediately see what was working and what was not, so that everyone could take the measure of what awaits us without believing that we were immediately at a very high level.
I didn't want a rude awakening in mid-September.
We were immediately in the hard,
I don't hide from you that the match debriefings were quite tough because we can't lose matches with 7 and 8 goals and tell ourselves that we're fine.
This had the merit of pointing out our shortcomings.
Everyone must feel in danger everywhere.
Going to Chambray, Besançon or Mérignac will not be easy.
Emmanuel Mayonade
In recent seasons, the title race has always come down to a duel between Metz and Brest. This season, Nantes and Paris 92 seem able to get involved in the fight…
Yes, that's exactly it.
In two days of preparation, Nantes had the ability to hold Brest and Paris in check, which indicates their short-term competence.
Paris has recovered the best pivot in the championship behind Pauletta Foppa as well as the best player of the past season, Méline Nocandy.
It is an enormous added value for this club.
So this quartet clearly serves as candidates for the title.
Is it good, in your opinion, that there are more suitors?
What is very good, already, is that Nocandy and N'Gouan remain in France.
In the very short term, of course, Metz Handball is not very happy about this but I remain, on a more personal level, an ardent defender of our championship and of women's handball activity in France.
So on that level, it's great that they stayed.
This brings more density, more homogeneity.
Especially since I was discussing it with my colleagues, Mérignac also has a very experienced team, for example.
Everyone must feel in danger everywhere.
Going to Chambray, Besançon or Mérignac will not be easy, especially with the Champions League in addition.
Now, if Metz are champions at the end, what does the formula matter…
Your recruits are mostly very young. Is this a concern?
Yes and no.
Let's say that in the short term, yes, it's difficult to be certain.
Now, in the medium term, I am convinced that Kristina Jorgensen and Valeriia Maslova will be two players who will count in the French championship.
Maslova is 21 but scored around 60 Champions League goals last season.
She really is a player of the future.
And Jorgensen is the same.
She wore Viborg last year, she already has 25 selections with Denmark at 24 years old.
Metz could be heckled at the start of the season, or due to a lack of bench depth.
But if the planets align well and quickly, Metz will be there and will respond to the call of competition.