« A slap in the face »: Bartringen’s coach still believes in the title

After the disappointment there was a need for speech. Trainer Juan Pablo Stutz discussed with his players. Then he listened with a serious face, as captain Steve Weber gave a committed speech to the teammates. For Bartringen’s volleyball player, this final series has not started as hoped. And in his new role as a chief coach, Stutz faces a major challenge.

« We got a slap in the face, » said the former international about the bitter 0-3 defeat in the first final duel against a strongly trumpet defending champion VC Strasse. « We expected what we trained throughout the week. But there are still two games. We are confident that we can make it, » he said.

It could only be a duel. If Bartringen in the « Best-of-Three » series also loses in the game next Saturday (5:30 p.m.), the championship would be over and everything would be the same as in the past three years. In the final, Bartringen had already taken the shorter against series master streets in the final. This time the starting situation was different. Bartringen won twice against streets in the regular season, went to the play-offs as leaders and now had home rights for the first time in the final.

The change of coach was surprising for outsiders before the semi -finals. Assistant coach Stutz replaced the previous head coach Paul Dobré. « As a team, we agree that it was the right step, » said Weber, who was still in the national team with Stutz. « The fact that he was still a player recently helps us a lot. He understands how to tick as a player. »

The new chief coach had been in use for VC Belair until last season. Before that, the outdoor attacker had won titles with streets and had also ran in Lorzweiler and Diekirch in the highest Luxembourg league. The 41-year-old comes from Argentina, but also has the Luxembourg citizenship due to his ancestors. In 2008 the former professional came to the Grand Duchy and strengthened the FLVB selection. « I was in the national team for ten years and loved it at any moment, » said Stutz.

First title as a trainer?

He could now lead a team to the title for the first time as a coach. He sees the experience as a teammate of some players from his current team, but also service providers from streets. « I know the players and their potential, » said Stutz.

However, his team did not exhaust it in the first final. « I didn’t like the atmosphere in the field. It wasn’t the team that won twice against streets in the regular season. We simply played with more courage, » complained team captain Weber. Somehow it seems to be bewitched for bare rings: when it becomes really important, the team has problems against the local rival streets. « I don’t know if it is nervous or arrogance or fear. I don’t know why. But something is and we have to turn it off for the next weekend. Otherwise we will lose 0: 3 and can go home, » he said.

After a very tight first set (25:27), it looked like it was a long contested duel on Saturday afterwards. Then the bare rings collapsed in the second set (16:25). In the third round (23:25) they led a long time and let themselves be taken out of the sentence and play. « We are better positioned than in previous years. But we can’t show it. That is what annoys me, » WEBER, who finally wants to win a title after three years as runner -up.

Swor player Jared Schubert seemed a little more relaxed. « It’s a bit disappointing. But I know that we can still improve. We will work hard this week and then challenge with more fire, » said the Libero.

The team stands with their backs to the wall, similar to in the preliminary round when Bartringen lost the second game against Fentingen. « We also had a small low in the semifinals, » said Stutz. The fact that his team overcame this in good time makes the coach confident that the turn can succeed again: « If you want to become a master, you have to be able to deal with such situations. »