William Le Pogam and Yverdon Sport are currently sharpening their skills in Portugal, on the Troia Peninsula, in the Lisbon region. The Yverdonois are preparing for the resumption of the championship (January 19 in Zurich) in a relatively warm climate and on pitches in excellent condition. Taking temperatures with the captain of YS, William Le Pogam, at the end of the second day of this course.
YS: William, as we speak, it is the evening of January 3, and already two days of camp have passed. Tell us a little about this recovery where everything comes together so quickly.
WLP: It’s true that it’s early, it’s the first time since my arrival in Switzerland that we’ve restarted so quickly. The organizations are not necessarily used to it, but with a championship which begins on January 19, it is difficult to do otherwise. The preparation will be very condensed, and we have, in a way, prepared ourselves for something hard, intense. We know we are going to suffer. Typically, this Friday, it was a big day: physical, tactical, ball but also joy and pleasure. Yesterday was different with the trip. From now on, we are fully in the bath.
YS: Before talking about our new coach, tell us a little about your teammates. How does it feel to see them again?
WLP: It’s always pleasant, especially since the squad has changed very little at the moment. We spend a lot of time together, this allows us to discover each other a little more and this in the private sphere, not just football. We learn to know ourselves as a man, not just as a footballer.
YS: A word on Portugal, and on the infrastructures found in Troia, where Yverdon Sport will remain there until January 12?
WLP: The main asset is the land. They are of good quality. For the moment, the weather is also very good. The hotel rooms are comfortable. It’s still different from Tabarka (in Tunisia), where we were last year. The complex here is smaller. But we have everything we need to do a good job.
YS: So let’s come to Paolo Tramezzani, new coach. Can you describe his style to us a little? What message does he want to send you?
WLP: My first impression is that he is a very demanding coach, who requires a lot of intensity – demanding in the good sense of the word. He is also very close to his players. The dialogue is open, and this is very important for the group to move towards common goals. He has this closeness but also knows perfectly how to set limits. Since we’ve been here, he’s shown that he’s the boss. And then like when changing coaches, he comes with new ideas. Everyone has their playing cards. Everyone has to work even harder, there is no free pass. The best will play, and that pushes us to surpass ourselves.
YS: Finally, a word on management here in Troia. How important is the staff to perform?
WLP: This is the whole invisible part, but which is so important during preparation. You can train for as many hours as you want, but if the sleep, care, nutrition and everything that goes with it doesn’t follow, it’s difficult to move forward. We can count on a very competent staff, which is very important to achieve our objectives.
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