Jean-Baptiste Maille, the new SIG leader in a preparation match in Gries -

P. Gigon / SIG Strasbourg

  • The SIG begins its Jeep Elite campaign this Saturday evening at Le Mans.

    A new adventure after the last two failed seasons.

    At the end of the championship in March, the Alsatian club was 10th.

  • What has happened since?

    The SIG recruited a sports director, kept its young Finnish coach and signed ... ten new players.

  • "We are in a year of reconquest, in terms of performances and values", summarizes the president of the Strasbourg club, Martial Bellon.

Only him remains.

Of the entire Strasbourg 2019-2020 workforce, the young Essome Miyem is the only survivor a year later.

Not very surprising in view of last season: a pale tenth place in the Jeep Elite, a premature elimination in the Champions League and… above all the sidelining of Vincent Collet.

The coach of the Blues had, in January, paid for the poor results of his team and the recurring problems that tormented his group.

Between the dismissal of Ali Traoré, accused of violent abuse towards the staff, and the little investment of some of his partners.

"We don't want to go through this anymore"

“We are aware that the last two seasons have not been up to the expectations of the supporters.

Whether in terms of results or behavior.

We don't want to go through that anymore, ”admits club president Martial Bellon.

“It is very clear: we are in a year of reconquest, in terms of performance and values.

We have been very attentive to this last aspect.

"

In this sense, the champion of France 2005 (yes, it dates!), Despite a budget reduction, in April was equipped with a sports director: Nicola Alberani.

Arrived from Avellino, the Italian came to strengthen a sector where the coach often seemed a little lonely.

"The function has developed in other French clubs and seems fundamental today," reacts Martial Bellon.

“No matter how talented a coach is, it's very complicated to manage players off the court.

"

The one who had been elected leader of the year 2015-2016 on the other side of the Alps also arrived with a full address book.

"He has worldwide data on the players and presented us with ten at each post, with two priorities each time", further details the Strasbourg president.

“Wainwright, Lansdowne and Jefferson were part of it, we took them.

Regarding Colson, it is more an opportunity for the end of the transfer window.

"

💥𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐍 𝐃𝐑𝐄 💥



𝑫𝒆𝑨𝒏𝒅𝒓𝒆 𝑳𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒆 will put his leadership at the service of the team this season!



Congrats captain @ djlansdowne8!

👊 #gosig pic.twitter.com/pG5fuoaXd2

- SIG Strasbourg (@sigstrasbourg) September 22, 2020

The SIG did not only play the American card.

She had first completed the recruitments of the French Cavalière, Morin and Maille, all solicited everywhere.

"The project, the discussions with the coach and the new dynamic that the club wants to set up appealed to me", explains the last city, leader arrived from Châlons-Reims.

In total, nine new players arrived in the offseason in Alsace.

Ten, counting Axel Toupane's current medical freelance to compensate for the injury of Léo Cavalière.

The French international, who made his classes at Rhénus, fits perfectly in the lineage of the selected profiles.

"Players who already have experience and who want to work to become even better", summarizes the coach of the SIG, Lassi Tuovi.

Lassi Tuovi will start his first season as head coach.

- P. Gigon / SIG Strasbourg

The 34-year-old Finn, former assistant to Collet, has had his contract extended until 2022 and will therefore start his first season as No.1. “I'm very excited to be back in competition after six months without an official match, especially with this new team, ”he says, before the trip to Le Mans this Saturday evening.

"Putting Strasbourg back in the right place"

What will be the place of the SIG in this Jeep Elite 2020-2021?

If the ASVEL Euroleague version of Tony Parker seems untouchable, it seems quite open behind.

Even if Bourg-en-Bresse, Levallois or even Monaco start with a little advance "The objective is the Top 8", announces Martial Bellon, before giving the floor to Jean-Baptiste Maille: "We want to put Strasbourg back in the right place.

»When the SIG played five times in a row the final of Pro A.

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