Handball: At Usam, for the moment, the count is not there

Le coach David Degouy accompagné de son adjoint, Yann Balmossière. MIDI LIBRE – ALEXIS BETHUNE

Vendredi 18 octobre, à 20 heures au Parnasse, l’Usam Nîmes (13e, 4 points) reçoit le promu Istres (10e, 6 points) dans le cadre de la 7e journée de Starligue. Un championnat que la Green team a démarré dans la difficulté.

Handball players generally drink pressure during post-match receptions. Against Istres, this Friday at the Parnasse, the Usam Nîmes players will absorb it a little on the pitch.

After six days of the championship, the Green team is third from last, with (already) 4 defeats, placing itself, in passing, 2 points behind… the promoted Istres.
''We are under pressure every weekend, and even more so now, admits Gard coach David Degouy. Whatever the opponent, you have to put yourself in a position to be 100% in every match.''

David Degouy hoped '' at least 2, or even 4 more points''

A technician who, since taking up his duties on the Nîmes bench in mid-July, has repeated, throughout the preparation,''to be where we wanted to be''. Reading the rankings, however, he clearly expected to be higher:  ''In terms of points, I was hoping for at least 2 or even 4 more.''

If Nîmes came up against a stronger team against PSG and Nantes, and did the job against Ivry and Créteil, the losses in Dunkirk and Chambéry are more annoying, as Usam was in the running for a long time.
''Now, the players need to realize the true potential d’team, notes Degouy. We must put ourselves in conditions of ultra-urgency.''

Facing Istres, the opportunity to move forward

Against Istres, the opportunity seems good to move forward: ''What I know is that this group is gaining momentum, progressing step by step, and also learning, both from its successes and its mistakes. The most important thing is the path we will travel together.''

The latest news from the Green team

CAPBRETON – Absent since the beginning of February 2024, having injured his knee (cruciate) in training, Boiba Sissoko took the road to Capbreton on Friday, October 11. The USAM center-half will stay in the Landes for another two weeks to refine his re-athleticization program.

ABSENCE – The club's press release was released early Thursday afternoon. Luciano Costa Da Silva will be unavailable until the restart in February 2025. The Brazilian left-back injured his left hand during training on Monday.

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