“Now we have this sign of Olympic champions to knock down”

Kévin, how are you feeling as you approach these 2022 World Championships? More glitches on the physical level?
Kevin Tillie: I feel great, almost 100%. This little forced break did me good, it allowed me to have my little vacation and my wife was happy. I was able to enjoy my little one and free my mind a bit. Physically, it also allowed me to recover after a long season.

Did you feel a certain physical and/or mental weariness?
No, not especially, because I even asked to be able to continue directly after my club season before having a short break during the Nations League. Except that finally, my body did it naturally. Mentally, I felt good. This injury was a bit weird because it was the first time I had a tear in my calf. I think my body wanted a little rest while my mind wanted to go on. But that’s how it is, and I’m fine now.

In the game, it’s easier to be free when the coach isn’t your father.

Kevin Tillie

What do you have left of the Olympic title in Tokyo?
Crazy memories. It will forever be a crazy experience. This title has only strengthened the group, its confidence, but also the relationships we have with each other. I think that’s the most important thing. We already had an amazing group but with what happened in Tokyo, we feel even stronger together.

You lived this adventure with your father, Laurent, as coach. Since then, have you talked about it often?
Already, we don’t see each other often because he is in Japan, he has a busy schedule, me maybe even more. We saw each other a bit this summer when I went to see him with my daughter. We talk about it from time to time, but not more than that. What is certain is that we discuss more easily today that he is no longer a coach. I’m a little more open, it’s going a little better (laughs). And then this title, it was only a year ago. Maybe we’ll talk more about that later.

What does it change for you that he is no longer the coach?
It changes a lot of things. It frees me up a bit as a player. In the game, it’s easier to be free when the coach is not your father (smile). I was very happy that he was there, it went very well and even better, it ended beautifully in Tokyo. And now I’m very happy to have a new coach.

As you don’t see him often, don’t you miss those moments when you find him in selection…
As a coach, no, I don’t miss it (laughs). Where I miss him is obviously on a human level because when he was coach of the France team, he was here, more free, and my daughter could see her grandfather more.

From one coach to another, everything changes most of the time.

Kevin Tillie

What difference does Andrea Giani bring to this coaching position?
He is already Italian, so he has a different perception of volleyball than my father. And then each coach is different, with a different method, a different speech, different training sessions… From one coach to another, everything changes most of the time. In his communication, he talks a lot, he really tries to convey his experience as a high level player which he had quite recently compared to my father.

Did he want to know how Laurent worked? Did he seek to be in its continuity?
I don’t know at all… It’s hard to say. Maybe consciously or not, he did. I know they spoke to each other several times, but afterwards, what they said to each other is their own business. And then I was not there when there was Bernardinho as coach because I had wanted to take a little rest after the Olympic Games and I had not played in the Euros, but from what I hear, Giani tries above all to take over the team after Bernardinho.

Are you disappointed not to have been able to discover the working method of Bernardinho, who is a legend in your sport?
Yes, of course I would have liked it. I am intrigued to know how he worked all these years in Brazil. But that’s how it is, I made a choice that I assume. And I was not too disturbed by the announcement of his departure suddenly.

The world title is the only one missing from the France team. Does this tickle you?
Necessarily. I remember that it was the first competition where we had performed well after my father’s appointment as coach in 2014 (defeat in five sets in the semi-finals against Brazil). In 2018, we experienced a strong disappointment (elimination during the 2^e tour) and in 2022, I would like to be able to perform at my best and do something awesome. Especially since it may be my last World Championships. I am very motivated.

I know there are many who think that the League of Nations has less value, but personally I don’t find it.

Kevin Tillie

How do you view your first three opponents, Germany, Slovenia and Cameroon?
It’s always difficult. We are supposed to win these matches but at the same time, they are opponents to be taken very seriously and who can, on a good day, attack us. Plus, now we have this sign of Olympic champions to knock down. We will have to be very concentrated and be ready from the start of the tournament to avoid any false notes.

Do you put Slovenia at home a notch above Germany?
Yes totally. The Slovenians remain in very good competitions, with in particular two silver medals at the European Championships. They were also 4th in the Nations League last year. This year, they rotated so it’s difficult to know their current level. But it’s a very strong team, especially with the advantage of playing at home.

Cameroonian volleyball, what does it inspire you?
Personally, I have never faced Cameroon, so it is difficult to give you a precise answer. I met Cameroonian players in the French Championship, I know they have very good players but collectively, I don’t know what it gives. The advantage is that we will play them last and we will therefore have been able to see them at work twice.

What importance should be given to your victory in the League of Nations? Was it just preparation for these World Championships?
No, in my eyes, it’s a title that matters a lot. I know there are many who think that the League of Nations has less value, but personally I don’t find it. Since I started playing volleyball, I have always followed this very high level competition. It’s true that some players ignore it, but it’s still a world-class competition, which is very long, which only makes it more difficult to win. I think this title is very important for the confidence of the group. It gave me great pleasure to prove to the French, but also to the world that our Olympic title was not due to chance.

It was also a perfect welcome message to your new coach…
(Smiles) Yes, too. And especially even I would say. This allows him to be confident and to reassure him that he is already helping us a lot.