Carlos Pozzoni, the famous Argentinian coach, was the guest of the channel's podcast ENERGY Padel. Appointed coach of Franco Stupaczuk, this season he supervises the third world pair, composed of Franco Stupaczuk et Juan Lebrón. During the broadcast, Carlos Pozzoni spoke about his relationship with his players, the potential of this ambitious team, as well as the sometimes controversial attitudes of Juan Lebrón.

Carlos Pozzoni's approach to Lebrón's temperament

Juan Lebrón is recognized as much for his exceptional qualities as a player, having been world number 1 for three years, as for his behavior, sometimes considered borderline. His temperament has not always been easy to manage for his teammates or coaches throughout his career; Alejandro Galán could attest to this.

Carlos Pozzoni, he accepts the player as he is:

“Juancito is the way he is, and I like him. I always said that to franc : to give you an idea, it is often franc which must separate us, Juan and me, when we go to a game or an event. We don't argue, but we each have our point of view. He tells us what he thinks, so do I, and that's franc who ends up intervening.”

More Pozzoni appreciates above all the fighting spirit of his player:

“I know Juan for a long time, and I'll say it frankly: I like this guy. Why? Because there's something about him that I appreciate. He wants to win, he trains like crazy, and even if sometimes he ends up in tense situations, he's evolved a lot in that regard. The first thing I said to him when we spoke was: "I want you as you are. Don't change a thing."

The coach knows Franco Stupaczuk for many years; they are currently entering their ninth season together. The Argentinian player, for his part, appreciates honesty and direct communication:

“Franco, for his part, still needs to work on the mental aspect a little. […] But franc, he's someone who doesn't keep quiet. If you get on his nerves too much, he'll tell you straight."

Objective of the pair

Today, with their status as third world pair, Franco Stupaczuk et Juan Lebrón are aiming for titles this season. The goal is to get closer to the duo Galan / Chingotto, second in the pairs ranking, even if more than 10 000 points still separate them for the moment.

“I still think there are two teams playing very well. Our goal is to get involved in this fight […] to disturb them a little. I'm not putting pressure on them to become number 1 when we're number 3. If we become number 2, then we'll have two objectives: to stay there, and to get closer to number 1. That's all I'm asking of them.”

More Carlos Pozzoni knows the potential of the pair, who have already disputed four finals this season for a title (won in the absence of the best pairs), is still far from having been fully exploited:

“For me, this pair is only at 50% of its potential.”

The coach points out that it takes time to build a truly competitive team at the highest level. Stupa et Lebrón have only been playing together since the start of the season and have only played five tournaments together :

“A real team really starts functioning at 100% in the second year. That's when they can compete on a level playing field.”

Pozzoni therefore bet on a project long-term with the pair Lebrón / Stupaczuk :

“I hope my current pairing will last more than two years. Two, three years, slowly. Because we're here, we're competitive. Being number 1, 2, or 3, yes, it changes things, but the important thing is to be in the race. And it's not a tragedy to be number 3.”

Even though he is aware that in high-level sport, only results count, and that the young generation already pushing very hard behind:

“In three years, there will be other players at the top. There are young people like Tino, Leo, Cardona, Fran Guerrero, which are rising very quickly. They will be here very soon.”

His role as coach

Carlos Pozzoni plays a key role in the development of the players and pairs he coaches on a daily basis. For him, one of the essential elements of success is through a good understanding off the field :

“Above all, I'm looking for a good relationship. For me, it's not just about the track. There has to be a friendship. We have to have a good time, not just when we win. In everyday life too. I like it to be like a family. Even if we don't all train together, we meet up for coffee, lunch, or dinner.”

The Argentinian also insists on the importance ofbalance and connection between players, because in a sport like padel, you don't win alone:

“And on the work side, I want the player to feel good, to want to progress, but also to help their partner improve. Because in padel, you win together. If your teammate isn't doing well, you don't win. So you have to create that solidarity, that cohesion.”

Nicolas Fillaudeau

A big sports enthusiast and former tennis player, I discovered padel a few years ago without really focusing on it. Then I became addicted to this sport by practicing it and watching the premier padel matches. Looking forward to sharing the 2025 news with you!

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