Freshly sacred Spanish champion with Real Madridfor the second time in his career, Guershon Yabusele arrived all smiles at the Blues' “media day” at INSEP.
Although he has unfortunately just lost his (former) Real teammate, Vincent Poirier, to injury, Guerschon Yabusele still believes that the French team has a very high level interior sector, with the integration of Victor Wembanyama. Enough to fuel great ambitions for these home Olympics.
“We have two players who are among the most dominant players… in the world! »
Guerschon, how do you feel physically and how are you approaching this Olympic event, especially at home?
Physically, it's okay. I was a little tired at the end of the season but I took a few days to breathe a little. There, we started again and it will be the final stretch until the Olympics. There's not much time to be tired anymore, so to speak. Things are going really well, we have great medical staff who take very good care of us.
What does it inspire you to be able to play not only with Rudy Gobert, but also Victor Wembanyama in the French interior sector?
It's pretty incredible. We have two players who are among the most dominant players… in the world! We also have Mathias and Vincent who have also had huge seasons and who have been improving their level for several seasons. [interview réalisée avant la blessure de Vincent Poirier, ndlr]. We have a pretty good interior. We can't wait to start training with the NBA players, see the connections and see how we can play.
What do you think of Vincent Collet's coaching evolution, and what do you think he will offer after the disappointment of last summer?
He's a great coach. He has ideas and he has had a year to prepare the vision he will present to us. Having Victor on the team, we will be able to try a lot of things. Over the next few weeks, I think that training together will give each of us a better idea of the direction we are going to take.
Do you think it's an advantage to play all year round with a dominant pivot too, in Edy Tavares?
Yes. Afterwards, each grown-up is different. Already at Asvel, I played with Mous [Fall]. In Madrid, with Tavares, it's different. With Vincent too. With Rudy in the French team, it's also different. In defense, I would say more or less that it's the same but, in attack, it's different with everyone. I can't wait to see what it can do with Victor, see the first connections.
How do you manage the competition that there will be in this very rich domestic sector, especially since you have been one of the best (if not the best) players in the last two campaigns?
If I play five minutes but we are champion, that's fine with me. The competition is always there. We are all competitors but I am not in the minutes, I am more in bringing as much as possible to the team. If it helps the team that I play less, so be it [pour moi]. If it helps the team that I play more, so much the better. I try not to focus on playing time, I prefer to think about the team and the results. […] Competing in the Olympics means making sacrifices, giving and fighting. I don't worry about shooting tickets.
What lessons have you learned from last year's failure? Have you talked about it among yourselves, between players?
Between players, we didn't talk about it too much. It was especially during individual meetings with the coaches that we were able to talk more about it and take stock. We know what happened anyway. We know we missed this competition. This year, it's happening at home, so we're sort of forced to have a different attitude and in behavior, to give a better image. We have to fight.
“We must not take any match lightly”
What do you think of the French squad this year? Do you think we are even better than last year (on paper at least)?
Today, in the list of 19, almost all players can be part of the team. There are 17 of us now, but I am very happy not to be a selector. It seems very complicated. Every year, it is more complicated with new players.
What do you think of this edition of Team USA? Are they too strong, or even untouchable?
We talk a lot about the United States but there are many other big teams who have also brought back their stars. So, yes obviously, Team USA brought back its stars and it's impressive but they are men like us, we all do the same sport, we all train. When the ball is thrown, it's fifty fifty. We will be able to look them in the eye. We shouldn't be afraid of any team.
Especially since you beat them in the last two competitions…
Yes, we beat them at the Olympics and we beat them at the previous World Cup too. There is something. I think we are one of those teams that give them problems. We will see how the competition goes. But before the United States, we have to think about our first matches. Each team is going to be difficult to play.
Can we also say that you have revenge to take against Canada, which is also bringing an even stronger team?
Obviously, we lost against them last year, in a complicated match. But they arrive this year with an even stronger team. That's why I said that it's not just the United States that will be complicated to play. I think of Japan itself, a very unpredictable team. There you have it, no match should be taken lightly. You will have to be ready for each match.
What is your view on the defensive potential of this French team?
It's going to be pretty incredible. On average, we have players who are rather tall, active. We have a lot of assets in defense. We're talking about the duo formed by Rudy and Victor but we also have Mathias behind, Vincent too. We have a big defensive force and we can have a big impact. [de ce côté du terrain].
Do you think you will be able to play at the same time as Victor and Rudy, for an XXL racket?
I can't tell you yet because we haven't trained together yet. But I know it can be an option. Vincent [Collet] thought about it. We'll try, we'll see in the next few weeks if it works or not. For me, no matter where I play, I can play position 2, that would suit me [rires] ! I don't mind, you have to try it, see if it works.
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