Fabrice Lefrançois asked his players to rediscover their « underdog » mentality

On Friday April 11th late morning, Cholet players finish their training at La Meilleraie joined by youth team players. Several messages – kept secret – are displayed on the venue’s giant screen, hammering home the team’s values. After three consecutive losses including two disappointing league defeats (91-68 at Le Mans, and 105-72 at Chalon) and a heartbreaking elimination in FIBA Europe Cup (88-90 against PAOK Thessaloniki), they needed to get their heads straight.

Coach Fabrice Lefrançois even gave his players two days off after the last game, so they could spend time together and « get some fresh air. » Which they really needed after seven months of regular season where they played games in all competitions. Especially with the final sprint approaching.

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« We’re having a great season »

Very harsh with his players during the last press conference in Chalon (« The performance was simply not worthy of a basketball game… It’s unacceptable! »), the coach, recently extended until 2028, wanted to go back to basics. Those that have given Cholet a season beyond expectations, which they better not let slip away at this point. Hence his instructions to players this week:

« I felt the guys were empty in Chalon, in terms of energy and passion. We needed to understand why… There’s a lot of mental aspect now: we need to set new goals by putting ourselves back in an underdog role, like we’ve been since the beginning of the season… Now I feel the guys are aligned again with these values. I felt this week that we’re moving forward again…

We’re having a great season. And I say ‘we’re having’ not ‘we had’. We should be happy about what we’ve done, be aware of it, be pleased with it, but we also need to tell ourselves we still have great things to do. »

Starting with this game at Nanterre this Saturday at 8:30 PM, an opportunity to bounce back in front of their fans. But beware of the Paris region club, in good form despite their mid-week BCL defeat. Currently 11th, they’re still in the race for the play-in and will give it their all.

On Cholet’s side, they’ll still be without Bastien Vautier (2.10 m, 26 years old). According to his coach, the Cholet leader is on schedule, even slightly ahead in his foot injury recovery. He hopes for a return 1 or 2 games before the end of regular season. He’ll have new tests in 10-15 days. The search for a replacement player hasn’t progressed. « We’re maybe the team most impacted by absences since the start of the season. Maybe the smallest roster in numbers in the Top 6 » regretted Lefrançois.

🎙️ Aaron’s words before the game against @Nanterre92!#CBNTR #CBFAMILY @Betclic_ELITE pic.twitter.com/YoopUMzLOM

— Cholet Basket (@CB_officiel) April 11, 2025