This Friday at the Commanderie, the OM staff was reunited. Among them was a new face, that of Nicolas Dehon, the new OM goalkeepng coach, who gave us his first impressions.
Nicolas, you are OM’s new goalkeeping coach, what motivated your decision?
I was out of contract with PSG. I’m arriving in a big European club which will allow me to discover the Champions League. There are some great objectives in this ambitious club which can count on the fervor of its many supporters. It was really an interesting move.
After Le Havre, Paris, OM is another step up in your progression?
Yes, we always look to progress, to glean information from everywhere. I arrived at Troyes in DH but my aim was to play in the L2. I didn’t think I would make it but succeeded. My career continues, I am trying to go as far as I can. Being ambitious is very important.
You will be reunited with Steve Mandanda here, a player you knew well at Le Havre?
Yes, I have known some great keepers like Steve but also Grégory Coupet or Christophe Revault. Intelligent guys who had only one passion: hard work.
Your relationship with Steve is strong as you were at the origin of his career …
I met him when I arrived at Le Havre, he was just moving into the pro squad. I worked with him for three years and allowed him to discover the professional world as he started in the L2 under my supervision.
Could what happened to the France side in South Africa affect Steve even though he didn’t play in the World Cup?
It will most likely affect him as they are important events, but he will have a break and some vacation. That will allow him to bounce back psychologically.
"I am coming here with a lot of humility and simplicity to listen to this staff which achieved great things last season"
Have you spoken to him about it?
Yes, we spoke on the phone, he is sad about what happened but needs to quickly forget about it and turn the page. Olympique du Marseille is his club, his daily bread, he has to perform well here.
In your position as goalkeeping coach, on what does your work focus?
What is important for me is to feel a connection, to know your keepers well and to have strong relationships with them. What is also important is the work, especially as far as the legs are concerned. They are what allows a keeper to go higher, jump, dive, hit the ball …It is very important.
There is also Elinton Andrade or Rudy Riou, have you gotten to know them?
Yes, I’ve spoken to all the keepers. I know that Andrade is a hard worker and that pleases me. Rudy has a lot of experience and there is a young player who is arriving, we will have to help him progress which is interesting as well. There are a number of different age categories for me to work with and that is stimulating.
You have discovered the Robert Louis-Dreyfus training centre, what do you think?
Yes, I have discovered it, even if I had seen it a number of times on OMtv. It’s interesting and we can put in good work here with such installations.
You also met the staff this Friday, how did that go?
Very well. I met Didier Deschamps and Guy Stephan, great guys with a lot of experience. You just have to look at Didier Deschamps career, I am coming here humbly and simply to listen to this staff which achieved great things last season with the league and cup double.
