“Three weeks ago I rediscovered Seb! »launched winger Chloé Valentini on Sunday, after the victory against Sweden. The Blues, and their coach Sébastien Gardillou himself, have learned to understand this still new costume, with which the former assistant will experience a final four at the Euro handball.
Qualification in hand, Estelle Nze Minko did not hide her joy for the French staff with this fifth consecutive semi-final on the European scene.
“This validates their project (…) we are in continuity but there are also many new things”the captain was satisfied, when her teammate Tamara Horacek underlined “the great work accomplished despite the short time spent together”.
Three months after his appointment, and after eight years spent alongside the emblematic Olivier Krumbholz, Sébastien Gardillou has visibly made his mark. Before the competition, Estelle Nze Minko assured that he “don’t change, it’s just your responsibilities that evolve”.
“Before we saw him as the one with whom we could take refuge a little, ask for advice because he had perspective during the match”Hatadou Sako tells AFP.
From now on, “he has another role, which is also that of making choices, of deciding, of evaluating”continues the guard, “but the good thing about being deputy is that we keep this closeness with him”.
“A little time to complete”
In the French team since 2017, Orlane Kanor has “took a little time to make” that the status had changed, happy at the opportunity to “find yourself as a coach”like in this small group session a few days ago.
French goalkeeper Hatadou Sako (l.) faces Hungarian right back Katrin Klujber (r.) during a group match of the 2024 European Women’s Handball Championship between Hungary and France, in Debrecen, Hungary ), December 10, 2024 / Attila KISBENEDEK / AFP
“There were four of us, he trained us and I said to myself ‘I missed him!’!” plus when I see the situations he imagines, he is extremely strong”smiles the 27-year-old left-back who sees in his coach “this same serenity” than before.
As serious as he is capable of performing dance steps in training, the principal concerned, surrounded by his assistants David Burguin and Amandine Leynaud, also continues to learn: “I hope I’m making progress!” ».
“I can do it again.” In the players’ associations, in my communication with them or the staff, in the workload… »lists the former coach of Metz and Nice.
“I am doing a job that is not mine to begin with”continues Sébastien Gardillou, “I had my head in a computer, doing cutting and analysis” for now “doing interpersonal skills, I learn to work with people”.
Collaboration
Besides “It’s so nice to work with them” he said about Les Bleues after the victory against Hungary on Tuesday, “I accompany them”.
Indeed, Gardillou advocates appropriation of the game project, by making them “work a lot in groups on identified themes”.
“For example it will be the rise of the ball of Hungary, the pivotal relationship of Hungary”completes Orlane Kanor “we discuss it among ourselves, we report to Seb (…) and we create the project we want to carry out”.
A form of collaboration also addressed by Pauletta Foppa, “in video meetings, the proposals come more from us, and he always validates! So we just have to make no mistakes on the ground”said the pivot.
Sébastien Gardillou sees in this autonomy, “the continuity of Olivier, in relation to what I learned alongside him (…) what I try to do is free speech”.
The work is bearing fruit for the moment and Chloé Valentini has “I don’t want to stop there, I have the feeling that we are still progressing and that we can go far”.
France coach Sébastien Gardillou (c.) during a match of the 2024 European Women’s Handball Championship against Poland, in Basel (Switzerland), November 28, 2024 / SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP
By landing in Austria on Wednesday, his coach, fond of “Mozart balls”will not be asked to taste these chocolate treats.
“But I won’t eat them the same, and I’m going to Vienna with my team”. His team that he now hopes to take higher.
