Onward to Oxford: Paris Frog

As part of our efforts to preview all 32 teams competing in the European Quidditch Cup (EQC), the Quidditch Post is chatting with representatives from each team. Today we spoke with Cédric Chillan, vice-president of Paris Frog Quidditch.

Quidditch Post: Your team has been one of the more successful European teams this season. What are your goals for EQC?

Cédric: Our aim is to reach the final of the tournament.

QP: What will it take to accomplish that?

Cédric: Since September 2014, we trained hard in order to win the French championship, and since January 2015, we have been working even harder. We do around two training sessions per week, working on our physique and our tactics. We have also organised friendlies.

QP: You were obviously successful in winning the French Championship, taking down Titans Paris Quidditch. Beyond the training, to what do you attribute the team’s success?

Cédric: The Frogs work well together as a team. It's for this reason that we don't put an “s” at the end of Frog. I think that our biggest strength is our solidarity. We are close friends playing together on pitch.

QP: Are there any particular players you think the rest of Europe and the world should know about?

Cédric: I think that each competition is a new challenge with its own share of surprises. We have strengthened our team since the French Cup, and we hope to surprise our opponents. However, I also think that we will be equally surprised by our opponents. The bar is raised from year to year.

QP: Are there particular teams you hope to face?

Cédric: We respect all of the teams because if they have qualified, it's because they are of a good standard. But it's true that the English teams like the Radcliffe Chimeras or Southampton Quidditch Club are the teams that are particularly feared throughout Europe. Furthermore, the teams from Barcelona, the Deurne Dodos, and our Parisian friends, Titan Paris Quidditch, are teams that could also win the tournament.

QP: How would you describe the team's style of play?

Cédric: We are lucky enough to have players with different qualities. We have very physical players, speedy players, and others who have a good eye for the game. But it's true that our primary strength is imposing a strenuous battle upon our opponents.

QP: Can you talk about specific names?

Cédric: Our players that stand out from the crowd are Harry, Greg and Sophie.

QP: Can you talk a bit about them? What makes them stand out?

Cédric: Harry is a born leader; he is very fast and has the ability to block bludgers with the quaffle and even avoid them. Greg is a player who has a good eye for the game; his passes are accurate, and as an experienced basketball player, his feints are advantageous. Finally, Sophie is a very good player; her superb positioning allows her to receive passes in good circumstances and score rapidly.

QP: What do you hope your team takes away from the experience?

Cédric: I think that the Frog will become more competent, as we will be facing the best teams in Europe. Consequently, the team will handle pressure and stress better, but above all, we hope to see our friends again and meet lovely people.

QP: Thank you for your time; we appreciate it.

Cédric: It was a pleasure.