After travelling through several European countries and collecting many successes, Tomas Rousseaux has been playing for a few years now in sunny Spain. But even under the sun, there are dark days for the now 31‑year‑old (former?) Red Dragon. Last weekend was one of them: in the Final Four of the Spanish Cup, his club Guaguas Las Palmas, considered the favourite, was eliminated unexpectedly in the semifinals.

Tonight, however, the leaders of the Spanish Liga have a chance to redeem themselves with the arrival of Montpellier in the Champions League. Yes, the Champions League — meaning Tomas and his team are competing at the same level as Knack Roeselare yesterday against Rzeszów.

What went wrong in the Spanish Cup semifinal?
Tomas Rousseaux:
“It was a shock for everyone at the club. Monacor (from Mallorca) played extremely well, very solid in defence, and they surprised us. Our opposite wasn’t having his best day, and we reacted far too late. We were given a lesson in humility.”

A surprise, since you are comfortably leading the Spanish league.
“We’re having an excellent season overall: we won the Supercup, we made it through the Champions League group stage… but our team is mostly made up of players over 30. Our setter is even over 40. The constant succession of matches in different competitions takes its toll. Life is great here on our island, but the big issue is the number of flights — domestic and European. It affects the players physically.”

Is the match against Montpellier a chance to bounce back?
“Among all possible opponents, Montpellier seemed the most manageable. I think we’re roughly at the same level as Knack Roeselare. The motivation to bounce back is definitely there, and the Champions League is always something special. It really lives here on the island: the arena is packed, the atmosphere is fantastic. We had a good first round too: only Berlin beat us heavily, but we lost just 3‑2 to Perugia and played well against Prague. These matches are amazing experiences!”

Montpellier is still a very strong opponent…
“Absolutely. Together with Tours, they lead the strong French league by a wide margin. They have a setter similar to D’Hulst, an Olympic standout like Le Goff, and three Argentinians. That might even be an advantage for us, since we also have three Argentinians who will want to shine against their compatriots. It also means information flows both ways. And maybe I’ll call my father for some tips — he follows the French league closely. It’s been a long time since we faced a French team. They’re always technically strong. We’ll see if we can find the right answers.”

What about your career plans? After Belgium, you played in Monza, Friedrichshafen, Olsztyn, Katowice, Rzeszów, Suwałki, Modena, PAOK Saloniki… and now?
“I signed a two‑year contract with Guaguas, so I’ll still be here next season. I’m happy here, I found stability, and I can spend a month and a half with my girlfriend — a ballet dancer and choreographer — whom I met during the opening ceremony of the European Games.”

And sportively, things are going well?
“I’m satisfied. We have a great team, the fans appreciate me, and the island is a fun place to live. There’s more to do here than in some Polish cities where I played. But I take good care of my body, especially after my back surgery a few years ago.”

Are you still a candidate for the national team?
“I’ve already talked about it with coach Zanini, who also coaches Valencia here. It’s definitely not a closed chapter, but physically it’s tough after my back and knee issues. I’m willing to contribute, but not in the first part of the VNL. During that period, I’ll be in Los Angeles with my girlfriend, who has performances there, and I’ll give some volleyball training as well.

The second period with the Red Dragons is still possible. I’ll be 32, and I need to start thinking about life after volleyball. From what I understand, coaching in the United States is quite attractive, both financially and sportively. There, you don’t get fired after a couple of losses. It might be a good investment for a future coaching career, close to my girlfriend’s work. We’ll see.”

Texte : MC
Photo : Instagram Tomas Rousseaux