Volleyball. “It’s a waking dream”: Saint-Nazaire in the final of the French championship against Tours, the troll of Ligue A

Players at a time euphoric and focused. “This is our trademark: enthusiastic and calm, clear-sighted, humble and ambitious“summary Gilles Gosselin, former player, former coach and now manager of Saint-Nazaire Volley-Ball Atlantique. While measuringthe extent of the feat. “It’s historic, extraordinary, enormous.”

In league A for just two seasons

Saint-Nazaire i championship final from France League A: we must remember that although it is a volleyball country here, the club did not return to the big leagues until the end of 2022. And two seasons later, here it is at the top of the poster.

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“I didn’t think I would experience this one day since I was a supporter of the SNVBA. It’s a daydream.” confides Antoine, a supervisor at a college, and passionate about it for years. “The Coubertin room is my second home… My wife might even say it’s my first!”

“I never thought I would experience this one day”

“It’s such a beautiful team to watch, the collective is incredible, we’re so proud” adds Fabien, blue outfit to carry on the shoulders. Antoine and Fabien belong SetAcés groupSNVBA supporters like their idols: «o“We are both excited and at the same time we have to keep a cool head to prepare the songs, the banners, the buses for Sunday.” Sunday at 7 p.m. is the return match of the final i the belly of the troll, in Tours. In the event of a tie, it will be the gold set to decide between the two teams.

Two games for history

Two matches to make history. Because if Saint-Nazaire is in an unknown country and lives first League A final Tours is historically one of the best teams in France, if not the best. The Touraine club is playing for a tenth title. A brand new duel at the top. One of David against Goliath. “But we are going to look them straight in the eye, we are not going to tremble. The Ogres can also fall and if we play like we did against Nantes and Tourcoing, we can bring back the title.” assures Gilles Gosselin, smiling from ear to ear.

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Ogre in the pot: 20.00 this Wednesday evening

“We are in a challenger position, we have everything to win and we are going to give everything” warns the switchboard 32 years old and 2 meters tall, Nicolas Burel. The team will always be able, perhaps even more than usual, to count at the famous eighth man in Nazaire: the Coubertin stadium, nicknamed the cauldron for its supercharged atmosphere.

One certainty: the 1300 tickets flew away in less than two hoursthe first match in this final is therefore at sold out. Will the troll fall into the “Nazarian cauldron”? Answer to 20 hours this Wednesday, April 24.