“Let's first be elected in this top 6”, assures Pierre Caillet, the Béziers coach

Le manager biterrois s’attend à un match rude chez le promu niçois. ASBH – Frédéric Bedos

Pierre Caillet, the manager of Béziers, who travels to Nice this Friday (7pm), assures that his team has a card to play this season in a championship where it will aim for the top 6. It intends to get used to being there. In any case, he is confident before the duel which promises to be tough against the promoted Nice.

Was the work done by your team in the off-season similar to that of last year ?

It was quite similar, even if we had a slightly shorter preparation, since we finished the championship later. We still did everything we could to maintain a good physical level. We reinvented ourselves a little by working in shorter weeks in order to achieve the same objectives as last season in terms of physical preparation, or even perform better at this level.

How did you focus your recruitment ?

It's been the same strategy for a few years. We kept the players who are key players and give satisfaction. We also always keep an eye on the training center, on the players likely to integrate the first team squad but also to recruit other youngsters. Then, we strengthened the group with elements having added value or with players allowing to have a larger squad in order to hold out in this championship which is very long.

Is your team more efficient this season ?

On paper, I would say yes! But it's played out on the pitch… So it's just a little benchmark for now.

Have you set a goal for your team ?

Of course. But it's also the players who set it for themselves. We want to be consistent in this top 6. Before talking about the top 14, we must first be elected in the top 6 because we can see that often the teams that regularly finish at this level are not far from the goal. We did it once, it was pretty good. We want to do it again this year and the years to come.

Is your team ready ?

Honestly, I have a pretty good feeling. Physically, I feel like we are ready. This week, we took benchmarks from our best matches from last year. We based the week's work on these benchmarks. It was ambitious but it worked well. On the rugby side, things are gradually coming back. We are not very far away. We need to work even more on efficiency in conquest or when we get close to the lines.

Do you keep game leaders like last year ?

We still operate on a management system known by the players that has proven itself, with leaders who are listened to and who take charge of a lot of elements. They are leaders of the game and of the life of the group. This season we started with five captains, Clément Ancely, Samuel Marques, Francisco Fernandes, William Van Bost and Charly Malié. They have the support of several other players forming a sort of council. This allows us to have a relationship with the whole group in order to move forward, all, in the same direction.

What do the changes in the sports staff bring??

A staff must also change because routines are established. However, the players must always have something new to learn, other speeches. It is true that there was a desire to bring a little fresh blood around me. Hearing me all the time is good. But the players must have been a little fed up. We have also strengthened ourselves with the arrival of two new video analysts, the club has invested in other match analysis software. There was also the arrival of a new fitness coach.

How are you approaching this first match in Nice ?

We are going into this match with a different status. We have to go there with ambitions. Knowing that it is a team that is starting again with a lot of desire, that has strengthened itself well. It is a promoted team that will not stay that way for long. We are expecting a difficult match in the fight. We will be expected. We will have to deliver a clean match.

In Nice, at 7 p.m.: Béziers: Lorre- Courtaud, Recor, Gontineac, Plazy – (o) Malié- (m) Marques- Ancely (cap.), Pauta, Van Bost- Nkinsi, Dodson- Judje, Gonzalez, Fernandes. Substitutes: Boulassel, El Maslouhi, Gayraud, Benoy, Añon, Abescat, Tupuola, Arroyo. I subscribe to read more