On Saturday night Paris Saint-Germain Handball have the opportunity to lift the Coupe de France. To do so, Les Rouge et Bleu will have to defeat Montpellier, in Créteil. We had a long chat with Henrik Toft Hansen before the game!
Psg.fr: How are you approaching this Coupe de France final, given that it arrives between two very important quarter-final legs against Kiel?
Henrik Toft Hansen: This match against Montpellier is our first opportunity to win a title this season. It's a very important match for us. We are only thinking about this match. We will have plenty of time to worry about Kiel after the final.
What do you think of this Montpellier team, whom you have already faced twice this season?
We played two good games against MHB, two games of very high intensity. At home, we had the situation under control for a good part of the time, but Montpellier didn't give up and reduced the gap at the end of the game. They will come with the same mentality this Saturday. We will have to bring thew same qualities as we did in the last two victories to win and lift the trophy.
How have you prepared for this final?
We've been playing a lot of games for a while now and our bodies are starting to suffer a little bit, but we've prepared for this game as well as we could. We analysed Montpellier's game, especially after their draw against Chambéry this week. We also looked at what we could do better after our last game. Overall, I think we have prepared very well for this game. The prospect of winning a title brings a lot of motivation to the team; that'\s why we're all here!
As at the end of each season, the month of May can bring titles. How do you handle this pressure?
Whether it's in the championship, in the cups or in the EHF Champions League, it's true that the month of May is the month where we can reward ourselves for all the efforts made during the last eight or nine months. If we lose a game, it could destroy all these efforts. In the Champions League, three or four minutes of inattention can be very expensive. But I feel that the whole team is focused, concentrated and in a good mood for this final. Everyone is ready!
In addition to all these games, you'll likely be flying to Tokyo this summer to play in the Olympic Games. Have you had time to think about it?
To be honest, it's kind of hard to think about all that right now. There is still a lot to do here in Paris, a lot of games to win. But for sure, playing in the Olympics again would be an incredible experience. We don't know yet how things will be organised. Anyway, it will be a very nice event. Many teams can claim the title.
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
(Credits: TeamPics/PSG)