Jean-Luc Monschau, Head Coach

Coach, tell us about your team's roster for the next Euroleague season, what changes you made and what improvements you expect to gain from those decisions?
"First of all, I must say we are happy to keep a majority of players that helped us to win the French League title last season and made it to this year's Euroleague. As many as six players are back from last season, including the Greer brothers, Ricardo and Jeff. We also kept centers Cyril Julian and Zaki Aboubacar, forward Victor Samnick and guard T.J. Parker. I think we did a good job in the off-season to round a competitive roster, landing center Rod Benson, forward Lamayn Wilson, experienced swingman Michel Morandais and guards Steed Tchicamboud and John Cox. We hope to improve a lot and do even better in the upcoming 2008-09 season, with so many challenges ahead of us."
How much can you learn from the preseason about your team? What signs do you look for now that will help when the Euroleague starts?
"It has not been easy for us. We faced some troubles throughout the preseason due to our many injuries, that did not allow us to work with the entire team together. Even with that, my players showed character and goos spirit facing those problems and the signs are good. The French League starts this weekend and we are ready to start competing."
Now that all the other teams have mostly completed their rosters, how does the competition in the Euroleague this season look like to you?
"I would say that our regular season group is great and difficult. It is great for our fans, who have given us great support throughout the years and now they will see Nancy playing its first Euroleague season. Of course, we will face teams like Panathinaikos, Regal FC Barcelona, Montepaschi Siena, Zalgiris and Asseco Prokom - that means that teams will be far from, being easy on court!"
What are your goals going into the new Euroleague season?
"I think we have to be ambitious and try to do our best. There is no other way from us but being ambitious, just as we did in the French League throughout the years: go out there and do our best!"