"Our main goal is to do the work we have to do every week to have the best chance of winning"

Interview with Àlex Formento, coach and sports director of the senior team

| Friday, 20 September 2019

Àlex Formento will start his first official season as coach of the seniors with the greatest enthusiasm. He says he is happy with the squad he has put together and his image during these pre-season weeks. He points out that the first opponent will be one of the most complicated of the competition and the team’s aim must be to try to work during the week to achieve victory at the weekend.

The senior has two seasons of life, how do you rate it?

At the time we analyzed how the project is going and we are satisfied with what we have done so far. We still have room for improvement but the progressive line has been upward. This summer I think it went well but time will eventually put us in our place.

Mor Niang was the latest addition last week, how do you see the squad?

I am very happy because I think the initial intention has been achieved. Bringing experienced players and a majority group of young talents who have played at the highest level and we expect good things from them. We are very excited for the season we are about to start.

You said that you would renew at the end of the season and, therefore, you would make the squad according to your way of seeing basketball. Is it very different from what the senior has practiced so far?

Everyone who’s been through here has had their perspective of seeing the same core idea we started with: attack from defense. From here, try to be able to make this defense-attack transition quickly that allows us to find free shots. Along those lines, I’m not worried about playing with high scores if it’s with good defensive work and a higher number of possessions.

Now that the competition will start, what is your overall assessment of the pre-season?

I am extremely satisfied with these weeks. For the effort of the players and for the image it has given as a collective. Although we were bad in the last match against Pardinyes, everything is included in the normality of a preparation period. In general terms, I have seen things that I would like to consolidate and I have also observed a positive evolution in the application of the technical staff method.  

In these weeks, the club’s junior players have participated in training and matches, will the dynamic be maintained in the competition?

It’s a club decision, basically. One of the initial intentions since the foundation of this project has been to grow the values ​​that came from the base. We know that it takes time and patience but, little by little, they are taking center stage in the seniors.

The competition against Hestia Menorca begins this Saturday, a first test of height to find out where the team’s level is.

The first day is always special. Everyone is looking forward to it and, regardless of the opponent, it always has that unique component. Regarding the rival, it is no secret. It has a workforce with great experience, quality and compensation. A team that, in principle, is aspiring to everything.

The LEB Plata is also starting, how do you see the competition this year?

It remains to be seen but things are getting more complicated every time, so I sense that it will be the same or more competitive than last season. Menorca is proof of improvement this season: last year it was a powerful team and this year it is even more so. Therefore, I expect a very tough league.

Facing this first challenge will be the first step to achieve this season’s goals, what are they?

Our main goal is to do our job on Saturday to have the most chances to win and that’s how it should be every week. If we do the work we have to do, we have many arguments to achieve victories, which is what everyone is chasing. If we are clear about this, they can beat us but we will never lose, which is very different.