Coaching Płock gives Cadenas goosebumps

Unlike in the past, more and more Spaniards show their handball talent in far away countries recently. Iker Romero joined Füchse Berlin two years ago, Carlos Ortega took over the coaching job at Veszprém followed by several players from his motherland one year late and just before this season two of his Spanish colleagues decided to walk the similar path too as Juan Pastor signed for Szeged and Manolo Cadenas for Orlen Wisła Płock.

In case of Cadenas he is sharing his position at the helm of the Spanish squad to that of Orlen Wisła Płock, in Poland. ehfCL.com took the opportunity to talk with Cadenas to find out more about this move and what is this whole new change like, just days away from Płock´s first match at the Group Phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League against three-time champions THW Kiel.

ehfCL.com: It seems you know exactly how to play against Montpellier as you won both matches against them last season with Ademar León and now you qualified through them in the Wild Card knockout with your new club …

Manolo Cadenas: “Not really. We only won one match from the two we played. You can never say you know how to beat a specific team as this is a sport.”

ehfCL.com: In a situation like your, coming to a new club in a different language, does a team adapt to a coach or viceversa?

Manolo Cadenas: “Of course you have to adapt to what already exists. This team had been doing a superb job for the past few years and that has to be the basis to start developing your own ideas, making some minor changes, taking some decisions…

ehfCL.com: How have you adapted to a country so different in language, culture, climate to Spain? What does it mean for your family also?

Manolo Cadenas: “I always think that changes can always help you to surpass yourself. Hurdles, in my case, are big as I am not fluent in languages. I start this new adventure with my wife, who has been very supportive.

“We were determined to take this step and start a new phase in our life for many reasons. Of course it is not easy, as many things are quite different, specially communication, but we are surrounded by a very nice atmosphere around us which is helping a lot.

“Mariusz Jurkiewicz is helping us a lot and the club is also collaborating by placing a translator Marta who is fantastic. Also Ivan Nikčević and Petar Nenadić are very helpful…”

ehfCL.com: What is your opinion about so many Spanish players and coaches going abroad now?

Manolo Cadenas: “On one hand this is a consequence of worsened conditions in Spanish handball, but it also means that there’s a good opinion about the individual capacity of both our players and coaches, what is very positive.

“In Spain we are really well developed at team sports, and this individual knowhow of players and collective knowhow of coaches is very welcomed abroad.”

ehfCL.com: What is the goal for Orlen both in the Polish League and in the VELUX EHF Champions League?

Manolo Cadenas: “We have been runners-up of the Polish league for the last two seasons and it is time to try to go for that first position, although Vive Targi Kielce have a great team. In the Champions League we must try to get through to the next round, which would already be a great success, and then see what happens.”

ehfCL.com: But then there are another two matches against Vive Targi Kielce, as both Polish teams are in the same group...

Manolo Cadenas: “This cannot distract us from our main goal. I don’t mind them. I just want my team to qualify. In any case, our fans love so much to meet them that it will just be another big celebration for them.”

ehfCL.com: Talking about that. You have made reference a couple of times already to Wisła Płock fans. What do you think of them so far?

Manolo Cadenas: “I think they are incredible, they were the eighth player against Montpellier and I had goosebumps. They go massivelly to all matches and they cheer so much. I definitely believe they are one of the best handball supporters in Europe.”

Photo: Dominik Dziecinny/SPR Wisła Płock

Further information:

Follow the Round 1 Match of the Week Orlen Wisła Płock vs THW Kiel with English commentary by Tom Ó Brannagáin live on ehfTV on Sunday at 17:00 hrs local time