“Keep this youthful freshness and this impertinence which is their strength”, Cathy Melain has kept a Landes heart

Former emblematic player of Bourges from 1995 to 2003 then from 2005 to 2009, coach of Basket Landes from 2017 to 2019: Cathy Melain confirms, the matches between the Tango and the Landaises are never trivial for her. Even more so when the two clubs dearest to his heart face each other in the Euroleague. A match which she regrets not being able to attend in real life due to her schedule, but for which she has organized her day in order to be free to follow it on television.

The one who decided to no longer be part of the staff of the French team since the end of the summer and the silver medal won at the Paris Olympics, however, maintained her functions within the France pole. The manager of the team which plays in Ligue 2 took some time to look at the journey of Basket Landes in the Euroleague, an interview carried out before the championship match between Berruyères and Landaises, which largely turned out in favor premieres Saturday January 11 (93-53).

Are the matches between Basket Landes and Bourges always special for you to follow?

I actually look at them differently because I am attached to the two clubs for completely different reasons: Bourges because of its history and Basket Landes because of the evolution of the club, the results it managed to achieve, the work that was put in. put in place by the management team and the staff, Julie (Barennes, his assistant from 2017 to 2019, Editor's note) in the lead. This is what makes it one of the poster children of this French championship and, now, of the Euroleague. It's a duel that is sure to attract the attention of any spectator. I watch them in a completely neutral way because I can't take sides: it's the only match of the year where I don't have a preference.

Are you surprised to find Basket Landes in the second phase of the Euroleague, and in a position to be able to qualify for the Final Six?

I'm surprised, and at the same time not. I was a little waiting for this new formula, which I have difficulty understanding. I didn't really know how it was going to go, if it was going to be an advantage or a disadvantage. I wasn't expecting anything, in fact because there's too much vagueness. Therefore, I didn't project myself at all by saying to myself: this is normal, not normal, is it good or not good. I remove this form of judgment from myself because I want the best. I'm not in a basketball expertise or reflection, but more in a “supporter” mode: I hope, and I'm happy.

What could be the ambitions of Basket Landes in this competition?

I think we should not fixate on it and rather take things as they happen, day after day. Because once again, we don't know what this formula can offer. I want to say that they have every chance like anyone else. When it's like that, you really shouldn't think, take everything there is to take because the calculations are useless, especially this year with this new, fairly open format.

There are indeed teams which appear, in terms of results and ranking, a tad above the rest, I am thinking in particular of “Fener” which poses as the big favorite of the competition, but behind the door is open. Already, there are no longer any Russian clubs with their ever-expanding and world-class squads. We must seize this opportunity, but we must provoke it: go there without putting up barriers. And that can be the main advantage of Basket Landes: no one expects them and on the other hand everyone is wary of them. But for the teams to continue to have this distrust, the girls must not be afraid of anything, they must not ask questions because this squad, which remains quite young, has no experience which could generate apprehension. We must keep this state of mind, this youthful freshness and this impertinence which is their strength.

“I'm not in a basketball expertise, but more in a 'supporter' mode: I hope, and I'm happy”

What is your opinion of the work carried out by Julie Barennes?

What she has managed to put together so far is excellent. We still have contact, the hardest part for us is finding the right timing to see each other, but we manage to follow each other in everything we do. I am delighted with what she is achieving, but not surprised, I was aware of her qualities and what she could implement. Where I was surprised was how quickly she was able to put things together. But I knew she had the knowledge, the process. It's top notch.

The basketball it offers speaks to you, obviously?

Yes and I think he is the person best suited to the Basket Landes club, much better than me. It is totally in synergy with what is happening there, in what people like, in what it is putting in place and the choices of players to enter this project. What she succeeded in doing, and what she still succeeds in doing now, is excellent.

Three Landeses, Leïla Lacan, Clarince Djaldi-Tabdi and Myriam Djekoundade, were recently called up to the French team. You who were still the assistant to national coach Jean-Aimé Toupane this summer, what do you think of these choices?

They seem entirely justified to me. Clarince had been on the lists for a while, Leïla was already there: they were already in the process and I'm not at all surprised. Generally speaking, it is regular performances that lead to selection: what they have managed to produce in their club, the fact that they are capable of expressing themselves at a Euroleague level, and therefore who comes closest at the international level, are favorable elements.

You are still in charge of the French pole team which plays in Ligue 2. Did you feel the need to get a little closer to the field? Do you miss coaching a club team?

The team I am taking care of for the third year is involved in the championship. So I have the competition side even if it is in a different context: these are young players of 17, 18 years old, who are in a training process and for whom the results, whether we win or lose , have no influence since we do not go up or down. Now, where I have responsibilities and where I place demands on myself, it is in the quality of the players who come out on particular points, aspects to approach the professional world but also in everyday life.

I miss the professional club world and I don't miss it because I'm busy, I'm happy to be where I am. I don't miss him in the sense that I don't think about him. It's not something I'm closed off about, but it's not something I wait for either. If an opportunity presents itself, great, and if not it doesn't matter, I'm very happy with the work I do on a daily basis. It's exciting because every year it's different. Each generation brings something and it is a challenge each time to try to support them as best as possible.

I will also soon have other missions which are under construction, which I cannot speak about yet, much more focused on an evaluation, an observation, an analysis of very high level basketball.

Have you kept any ties with the Landes? Do you ever come back to it?

Sometimes yes. I kept in touch with Céline Dumerc and Julie Barennes in particular. But it's always a question of timing. Céline, we saw ourselves in the French team at every international window and this summer. As soon as I can, I come but it's not easy because I have personal obligations and vis-à-vis the championship. I live in Paris and it's convenient, I can get off at Mont-de-Marsan easily. The desire is there, the possibilities, I have them, I just have to find the time…