A high quality technician, and a great man. Adrian Ursea spent two very successful seasons with the Gym, between 2016 and 2018. Arriving with Lucien Favre, the former Assistant Coach, like the Swiss manager, left the club at the end of last season. A man who likes to keep in touch, Adri’ returned to Geneva - where he lives - at the start of the summer, keeping a close eye on the development of the institution. Geneva, being just 15 minutes away from Divonne, where the Aiglons spent a week at the start of July, allowed him to follow in close proximity the Gym’s training sessions. Conversations with Coach Vieira, meals with the squad, coffees with “the old heads” amongst the team: the Swiss coach was at home. He made the most of this opportunity to speak, with the class that characterises him. Explaining that his departure from the Gym “is only for the time being”.

Adrian, how did you find the adventure with the Gym?
I was lucky to experience two fantastic years here over the last two seasons. I arrived at a time when the team was growing. There was the move to the new training ground, the Europa League, the 3rd place finish in 2016-17.
I can only leave with lots of good memories, happy to have had the chance to spend these two seasons here. I had a magnificent experience and I hope to relive the same in the future, be it in Nice or elsewhere, because when everything falls into place like that, it leaves its mark.

We get the feeling that you are very attached to the Gym, we saw you in Divonne on a daily basis... 
I am someone who by my very nature shares a lot. Given that I live close by, I had the opportunity to attend the sessions, to observe the methods. I met the new staff, who welcomed me really nicely, I spoke with them, especially with Coach Vieira. I was also able to see the people that I worked with during these two years, which was really nice. When I see the words of the President, that is exactly how I feel.

He said “Adrian will always be at home in Nice“...
That means a lot, because it is rare to see things like that today. It may be the recognition for the work that I did and my attitude, in the good times and in the difficult times. I leave the Gym because that’s the way it is, it’s part of football, but today I won’t say goodbye to the club. I am only saying “see you soon”.

What are your immediate projects?
First of all, I am going to go on holiday, (after the World Cup, he was heading off the the USA). Then, it will be time to look for new opportunities.

What are the criteria that will make a difference to your choices?
I have already had numerous roles, both in youth football and the pro game. My main desire is to be back on the training ground. I like the daily involvement too much to want to take an administrative role, which I have experienced in the past, notably with Neuchâtel. But I will wait to see the opportunities that present themselves in order to calmly make a choice.

Did you expect the fit with the Gym would be so successful?
Honestly no, when you go into these things, it’s always an unknown, a discovery. We had a good bunch around us, the people we had with us were able to help us a lot when we arrived and we had a bit of luck, which allowed us to succeed. It was very important to start well, we did that and then things continued. The bar was already very high, we succeeded in doing some very good things. It’s a source of satisfaction.

Your biggest source of pride? 
The Gym tries to battle it out with sides with much greater means, and in that situation, there is only one option: to have different ideas. During my career, that has always been something I have liked, because it creates another approach that allows people to regonise you. At Nice, the club is built with different ideas of style, another way of doing things, a different approach. Bit by bit, I was falling into the Nice universe, and my enjoyment grew.  That’s why I felt at ease, I quickly discovered that the club and I matched perfectly. In the way that it is stuctured, the way it works, it fits like a glove. For me, that’s the only way you can develop.

“All of that will remain engraved in my memory”

You adapted as quickly to the squad as you did to the club...
That could be down to my previous experiences. In a club, there is a locomotive that is represented by the first team. It’s a part, but it’s only a locomotive: it can go very fast, slow down, stop. Behind that, there are lots of things that are linked and for me, they are just as important. The offices, the supporters, the entourage: that’s the life of a club. Even from a social point of view, the club is part of the city and it contributes to its dynamism... I always believed in this broader view.

What conclusions can you draw? 
Aside from the results - I am not the best person to comment on them -, what I take away is that we never lost sight of our principles. It didn’t matter who we played or the period we were going through. We were loyal to our way of doing things. There was the third place finish (2016-17); then last season (2017-18), we came out of a difficult situation thanks to that loyalty to our values. Maybe at the end, with a bit more care and concentration, and we had been able to make the most of certain situations, we could have got 6 extra points, which would have got us into that top part of the table and allowed the club a European spot once more. But there are no regrets when you have given your all...

Your favourite moment?
The match against PSG (3-1) or the derby against Marseille at home when we came back and won (3-2), during the first season. Another great moment, was achieved in a tough period, against Toulouse, last year. We remained loyal to our values and we managed to win even though we were down to 10 (2-1), it was intense. All of that will remain engraved in my memory. 

You brought your touch to the Gym. Has the Gym changed you?  
I don’t know. In fact, I don’t know if I brought my touch to the Gym... I have always been of the opinion that we are just here for a part of the club’s history, and it is very  important to try not to disappoint the people that showed their confidence in us. Another fundamental element: to never forget to take pleasure in what we do. I know that I am lucky to do an extraordinary job. We are lucky, because when you play sport as a day job, even with the demands of the professional game, there are no limits. You just do what you love. When you have a chance like that, you have to devour it.

C.D.

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