Eric Chelle Hails Team Spirit After New Boys Make Immediate Impact

Head coach Eric Chelle has praised the team’s strong dressing-room culture after two of the club’s new additions made an immediate impact by getting on the scoresheet.

Chelle said the smooth adaptation of the new players has been largely down to the way the established members of the squad have welcomed them, describing the relationship within the team as one where newcomers are treated like “little brothers” or “little sons.”

According to the coach, that sense of togetherness has made it easier for new arrivals to settle into the group and understand what is expected of them.

“When a new player comes, all of these guys, they take him like a little brother, little son. So this is why their adaptation is very good,” Chelle explained.

The coach also stressed that his responsibility is to identify players who can add something to the team, but their ability to adapt ultimately depends on their attitude and willingness to embrace the existing group.

Chelle noted that humility is particularly important for new players, warning that arriving with an overly confident attitude could make the transition more difficult.

“If the guy comes and he walks like a big man, so it will be difficult for him. But if he comes and he's humble, with that kind of state of mind that we have in that group, it will be easy for him,” he said.

The coach believes that this combination of humility and a welcoming dressing room explains why some newcomers can look completely settled almost immediately, despite having only recently joined the team.

“This is why you see some people, some players, when they come, it seems that they've played since 10 years when they just start,” Chelle added.

The immediate contribution of the new boys, including their goals, therefore offered another indication of how quickly they have integrated into Chelle’s squad.

Meanwhile, Chelle also explained one of his tactical decisions during the game, saying a substitution was made to inject fresh energy into the team after a player had completed a strong first half.

“It was a tactical decision because, like I said, he finished the first half well, so I feel that he was a little bit tired, and I wanted to bring some energy in that team,” the coach explained.

For Chelle, the early impact of the new arrivals is not simply about their individual performances but also reflects the collective environment created within the squad.