How the new coach wants to get Zug back on track

Zug has had a turbulent few days. After a horrendous start to the new year with ten consecutive defeats, the sporting management pulled the ripcord last week and pulled Benoît Groulx, a coach that nobody in Switzerland had on their radar, out of the hat.

Groulx worked in the Russian KHL with Traktor Chelyabinsk until mid-November, never before at the highest level, but in Canada and the USA with junior and minor league teams. "It's not that I don't know the Swiss league at all," reveals the 57-year-old from Gatineau. "I've followed it online. But there's nothing better than being behind the boards to see the level up close." He was "impressed" by the friendly reception from the players and the Zug organization in general.

Willingness to win? Not at all

The players are well aware of their responsibility that Groulx's predecessor Michael Liniger was already out of a job after less than six months. "You definitely feel guilty," national team forward and World Championship silver medallist Sven Senteler admits to Keystone-SDA. "I think everyone has a guilty conscience. It's certainly not the case that we played against Liniger."

However, there was no sign of a guilty conscience or a determination to make amends on Tuesday evening in Davos. Zug was already behind after 37 seconds against the leaders, and in the end the result of "only" 1:4 was still the best thing about Zug's performance. The club with the much higher expectations is in the middle of the battle for a place in the top ten, which could still lead to the play-offs via a play-in. The absolute will to win? Not at all.

Senteler's analysis is unsparing, but also frightening. "We missed the start, we weren't ready," says the 33-year-old veteran. "What we did well in the last two games, we lacked this time. The fighting spirit, the second effort to win back the glass, the backchecking. It was all so-so. That's not enough against a good opponent." The scorer of Zug's only goal has no explanation for this. "That's a good question. If you knew that, we would certainly have been better prepared."

Finding a way out of the death spiral

Now it's up to the new coach to get the lurching ship back on course. The French-Canadian does not have a miracle recipe. "Give the players back their self-confidence," Groulx emphasizes as the most important point. After all, they recently fell into a "death spiral from which we simply couldn't break free", as Sven Senteler, who celebrated three championship titles with Zug and the ZSC Lions, puts it. "It wasn't a nice time, and it was something new for me. For many other players too, I think."

Perhaps that's the crux of the matter. While Rapperswil-Jona, Kloten and the SCL Tigers, for example, are used to having to fight for the playoffs, the EVZ perhaps failed to recognize the seriousness of the situation for too long. "I first have to get to know the players and understand how they work internally," says Benoît Groulx, who has no magic formula. "I've learned a lot in the first two matches we've won, but also tonight."

Immense program

Does he now have to tighten the screw? Take a firm hand? Groulx smiles. "I believe very strongly in certain things," he says. "Some things are non-negotiable. But that's the case with every coach." However, he also points out that Zug had an immense program with the Champions League semi-finals. Last Sunday, the players had their first day off in eleven days.

With such a packed program, it is almost impossible for the coach to get to know the players better and practice any new tactical variations. This week, two more tough opponents await Zug in Lausanne and the ZSC Lions, but then comes the Olympic break. A blessing for Groulx. After that, perhaps we will see the signature of the Canadian, who has hardly been known in Switzerland so far.