European Prospects

The French team INSEP got eliminated in Belgrade during the semi-finals by FMP Belgrade. However the defending NIJT champions come to Barcelona with a huge envy and big ambitions to earn the trophy for the second time in a row. Hugo Invernizzi confirmed us their will to reach the Final on Sunday.

You have been eliminated in the NIJT Qualifier in Belgrade during a “special” semi-final. But you are the defending champion. I guess you will go to Barcelona in order to win the title again?

Yes, we clearly travel to Barcelona in order to defend our title and with a real revenge spirit in relation with what happened to us in Belgrade. We lost under bizarre conditions against FMP Belgrade and we played very bad against Crvena Zvezda. So we want to prove that we are better than these two teams.

The injuries of William Howard and Charly Maraux (ACL) are certainly a major handicap. How do you want to overcome the absence of these two important players?

Of course, the absence of these two players is a handicap but they have been absent nearly the whole year because of multiple injuries. So we are used to play without them even if their presence would be a huge plus for us.

You will play against FMP during the group phase. I guess that you want to show them who is the stronger team on a “neutral” court?

It is not only FMP that we have to beat because we need to show 3 times that we are the strongest in order to reach the Final. But it is true that the game against FMP is really important for us. Even if I have to underline that we need to win 3 games to be able to defend out title.