Coach Chema Jimenez speaks exclusively to FutsalPlanet about his time in England where he ended Helvecia's five year winning run and led FC Baku United to their first English League Championship. This achievement was more astounding considering that after signing he had just a few weeks to prepare the team to become only the second ever team in the history of the competition to lift the trophy.

Jimenez has held various roles during his career in the sport, providing him with a broad range of experiences. He began as a professional player before retiring and becoming a coach, working with elite teams and at the youth level in both Spain and Russia. Further he worked for the Spainish Futsal Federation in the administration department for eight years.

In this interview the former Inter Movistar head coach tells us how he achieved success with Baku and. drawing on his experience, analyses the present and future of futsal in England. Finally he reveals his wishes for the future.

1. How was the final against Helvecia?

The team arrived very tired after a difficult semi-final against Sheffield. This team surprised us with their excellent physical preparation and it was only at the very end of the game that we could take the lead. It has to be understood that from the end of the semi final match until the beginning of the final there was not even 4 hours, tiredness and fatigue was present. In addition we had 5 players that had played a lot of minutes not only in the semi final, but during the final months of the competition as well.

The game was planned with these conditions and knowing that the opponent had very important individual ability in three of their players which were Lucas, Raoni and Pasariño. They had experience in finals of the league that Baku didn't have in the youngest and inexperienced players of the team. We used a mixed defence in half court and it paid off due to the huge exhaustion, and mental and physical effort of the players.

Extra time arrived with few chances on goal by both teams and additional tiredness in the legs and mind, in addition to the injury of Agon, a important player for the team. Helvecia also had a player missing in Lucas due to injury.

It seems incredible but the organisers decided to use two 5 minute periods of extra time. Therefore the players on both sides were going to play, in less than 8 hours, 90 minutes of futsal with stop clock, it is absurd and something not normal in the world of futsal.

They went ahead on the scoreboard at the end of the first period of extra time but we never lost our nerve and continued with our system of play. At the beginning of the second period we played with the fly goalkeeper, having three clear chances. The equaliser came after a 10 meter penalty by Elisando that enabled us to reach penalties. Though it is a lottery, the team had trained for this situation all week and I believe we were well prepared for it and in the end the luck fell on our side.

2. How did you prepare the team with so little time considering you joined a few weeks before The Grand Finals?

I knew that with only 12 training sessions and the team being amateur there was going to be many additional difficulties in the preparations. Therefore, I decided to use an integrated training, where we broke down defensive principles, with pre-established plays in attack and a lot of work on dead ball situations; Without forgetting transitions and the special situations of 4v3 and 5v4.

The players understood that despite still being amateur they had to train like professionals and their response was very good. Every day the work of almost 2 hours was of a high level and little by little we saw how the team was growing, not only in its intensity and appreciation of the game but also in its competitiveness. The players during these 3 weeks believed they could win the league. The last training session was the at the highest level of work with a mental awareness that they could do it and in the end the players reaped the rewards of the excellent work from the training sessions.

3. Why did you decide to sign for Baku?

I had been with the team in November for a couple of weeks and I kept in close contact with them through Skype, email and telephone calls. In April I coached the team for a week in Spain and they asked me to help them prepare well for The Grand Finals, I agreed to make my small contribution not only to the team but to English futsal.

I knew that the change from Spanish futsal to English futsal was huge and that the working conditions were very different and limited but I knew that, the same as happened in my country many years ago, people came from abroad to teach us and help us improve in this sport. Later we were successful like being two times World Champions with our national team and to have multiple club titles in Europe and the world. This time I was able to help a team that I believe needed my help and the league title has demonstrated that with a little bit of help sporting success can be achieved.

4. What is your impression of English futsal?

As is logical it is a very different competition to what exists in my country. I knew this level in Spain many years ago and I have seen how we have been growing, thanks to the image projected by the national team and the support of the futsal federation.

I believe in England and English futsal. I believe strongly that it can carry out a medium term project in order to grow. I have seen the passion in many players and coaches. They love and adore futsal and that is worth a lot for me.

You have to take steps in order to grow but the first thing is to want to grow. You don't have to be worried about getting help from abroad, from other countries, from other coaches. The future can be very promising and important for this country because I am one of those that believes they must be much higher in this sport. England will always have my help. I am at their entire disposal.

5. As someone with knowledge of futsal around the world how do you see the future of English futsal and the England national team?

As I have said in the last question, I believe in English futsal, but those that have to believe are those that are responsible for futsal in England. You must care a lot about English futsal. You have to work with people that understand, are passionate and give everything for futsal without worrying if this is from other countries. I believe they have to use the support from the experience that can be provided from abroad. I believe the journey that we have taken in Spain would be very good for England.

English futsal must improve in so far as the structure of competition, organisation of the league and growth in the quality of the teams. In this the national team has an important part to play. The image of the sport of a country starts with the national team. If the national team improves, grows and earns importance in Europe, that will support making English futsal growth unstoppable. But for that there is a long road ahead and it requires having professionals that are familiar with the sport, are passionate about futsal amd bring their personal experience for the good of English futsal.

I, like many people in England, believe that English futsal needs changes to improve. Those decisions, in the beginning, are difficult because many people can remain on the journey, but in the end the only beneficiary must be the sport that will grow year after year.

I believe in English futsal and I hope and wish that it can improve day to day. I will always be here to help them.

6. What are your plans for the future?

My plans for the future are to be able to find a sporting project for the future of futsal, where I can contribute my experience and I can help grow futsal outside of Spain. In addition somewhere where my family have the appropriate conditions to be happy.

I don't have any specific place in mind. I would like that the project is serious and sustainable over time. Also that futsal in that country can benefit, it can grow and improve the national team, their league and their federation. I hope I have luck and can find one soon.

7. Anything else you would like to add?

Thanks for the interview and the great help that you give to futsal and the excellent work you do for my sport.

Best wishes to all.





FP Staff --> info@futsalplanet.com