How are you approaching the season? Joffrey Lauvergne: We are a little vindictive and upset about last season, which was frustrating on many points. We have the desire to do better. We are leaving with a team that has evolved quite a bit, it will take a little time but the club has made good recruitment (arrivals of Mike Scott, Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot and Franck Jackson in particular, Editor’s note). We explained to the new recruits what had happened and that the club had real expectations. We resumed training on August 17, a fortnight later than other teams. We still have time to progress, learn to play together and get to know each other. But we have the talent to be more competitive than last year.
What are Asvel’s objectives this season? We want to be champions of France. We also have the Coupe de France and we also play in the Euroleague table, where we want to do our best, with the objective of competing in the play-offs. Monaco is favorite, but there are many favorites who lose. This is our wish. They have recruited important players and we will have to see how that goes when it comes time to play. We are approaching the season well and we are very happy to start the championship on Sunday, with the prospect of playing in our new venue which will be a little extra for us (in November, Editor’s note).
From a personal point of view, after a season ruined by your rupture of the cruciate ligaments in your right knee, how do you feel? I am in good shape, I have no apprehensions and I feel good. We asked ourselves the question of resuming earlier with the club, at the end of last season, but I still have three years of contract with the club and we preferred not to take any risks. I am committed for the long term, with an ambitious club. I’m really proud of myself for the rehabilitation I was able to do. The automatisms return little by little with training and matches, you have to be patient. I’m so happy to be playing again. And my legs are tingling at the thought of making my return to an official match.
