Montpellier player for two seasons, Valérie Gauvin prepares the resumption of the championship with her club. We went to meet him to talk about Montpellier, his goals, in club and team of France but also his experience in university football, already haloed by two titles, including the last this summer.

Hello Valerie. How is the preparation of the season with Montpellier?

"It's going well despite the absence of 6 players at the Olympic Games (including Sofia Jakobsson, Linda Sembrant, and Sakina Karchaoui). It's a good preparation. For the moment we played 4 matches (Albi, Marseille, Barcelona, ​​Athletic Bilbao), and there we still have three weeks before the start of the championship.

The coach [Jean-Louis Saez] puts everyone on an equal footing. He tells us to make the effort together. For the attackers, it makes us work gaming systems to adapt to any type of offensive and defensive situations.

To go back, on the season which has just passed. What is your assessment of this at the team level and for yourself?

"Last season, the double goal was to finish second to qualify in the Champions League, and win a title.

We were in the final of the Coupe de France, eliminating the PSG semi-final, for the second year in a row.

In the league, despite a decline in the winter, I will remember our encouraging opposition against Lyon (French Champion) with 2 draws, and the draw away against Paris (Vice-champion).

On a personal level, things are getting better. My goal is to bring the maximum to the group, and to develop my playing time.

In attack, there was strong competition, with 6 international players. This competition is pulling us up. On my side I work hard every day to have my place. "

Do you keep a memory of your high level club debut? Have there been moments since the beginning of your career that have particularly marked you?

"I try to remember the good things that allow me when I'm less good to keep moving forward and progressing;

The memories that remain most present are the discovery of the D1, at 16, with Toulouse, whose matches against Lyon and Guingamp. Then, the season in D2 with Toulouse where I scored 32 goals, a season where I took a lot of fun. And finally, the title at the Universiade in Korea, with the title of top scorer. "

You won two titles in university football, a title of world champion last year with the French university team [at the 2015 Universiade in South Korea] and this year a European title [at EUSA games] with the university from Montpellier [Valérie is studying STAPS in Montpellier]. What memory do you remember?

"Last year, with the French university team, it was really the top, a great atmosphere and it was my first participation in a World Cup. It was a high level competition. For example, half of the players of the Russian team played in the final [2-0 win over France with a goal from Valérie Gauvin], were players of team A of Russia.

This summer in Croatia, the tournament was on the format of football 7. The University of Montpellier has qualified two teams, one female and one male. There was a very good atmosphere, it's still good memories. "

Last season you had your first selection in the French team against the Netherlands (October 2015). You had already known the selection in young people, but there to meet with the "big" what does that do?

It changes at all, it's the very high-level. Just the level of play, it plays faster, it's more physical, and it requires great technical precision. Today, I work hard every day to develop my potential, and answer present as soon as the breeder will convene me.

Have you followed the J.O and especially the women's football tournament?

" Yes of course. I was able to watch some matches, those that were not too late (because in full preparation with Montpellier). Like everyone else, I am a little disappointed with the elimination of the French team in the quarter-finals. The Team of France is a beautiful team, which gave me pleasure. "

Pictures: MHSC