Nedim Remili: 'I'm proud of Créteil'

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On Sunday afternoon, Paris Saint-Germain Handball challenges Liqui Moly StarLigue co-leaders Créteil in Round 3 action - a match that will see Nedim Remili faced the club whose academy he came up through...

Psg.fr: Sunday, you make your return to Créteil. Is it always a special moment?
Nedim Remili: Yes, it's only the second time I've been back,and the first time with a crowd. I've been in Paris for six years and I've missed three of those matches because of injury problems [Créteil also spent a season in the second division]. Since I left the club, I've come a long way. It is indeed always special to return. My best friend still plays there, my father also works there. I'm happy to be back. I hope it will be a great party.

Créteil have also had a great start to the season...
They are co-leaders with us. They also have a new coach, who is doing a very good job. I've heard a few things [laughs]. He is doing them a lot of good. The new players also look very promising. They are on a good dynamic, just as they were in the second half of last season. I'm proud of them and I hope they will continue like that. For me, a club like Créteil should be playing in Europe.

Yoann Gibelin, who currently plays for Créteil, will play for Paris as of next season. Is that proof of the quality at the academy in Créteil?
Yes, we were two Olympic Champions (with Hugo Descat) who came from their academy. Handball is a sport that is very important in Créteil. There are many professional players who come from there. It is a club that serves as a springboard to take them to a really high level. I know that Yoann will do a lot of good things in Paris. He will still be learning, because he is young. We already know he's a good player in our league, but I'm sure that under Raul [Gonzalez] he will become an excellent Champions League player.

You mentioned the Olympics. Was that a career goal for you?
Of course! I wouldn't say it's an 'achievement' because that sounds like an end. For me, this Olympic victory is the beginning of our story. We are not The Experts. This victory will launch great things. When you win, you want to do it again. You get hooked. I celebrated the victory, but I immediately turned to the Euro. It's all positive!

This is your last season with Paris. How do you feel about it?
Once again, I have developed a lot since I left Créteil. Paris has helped me a lot in that and continues to do so. I have grown professionally and as an individual. In June, it will be the end of a chapter, but not of the story. This is not the time to take stock. My family and I are very proud to have been part of this story. I will be a Parisian forever, it will not be taken away from me. I will sail elsewhere. It's an exciting challenge that awaits me and I'm going to do everything to succeed.

What is your goal before you leave?
The EHF Champions League is my number one goal. When I was a kid, there was nothing else but that. I didn't even understand the Olympics, but I came to understand it when I grew up [laughs]. It has been six years and we've come very close... We always miss out because of something at some point. I hope this year is the one. Ever since I've been here, the team has always been competitive. It's very hard to win this competition. It's long and it ends on a high note with a crazy two-game weekend in a full house with an incredible atmosphere. The Final4 is hard, exhausting, confusing... But so good to experience! I really want to be happy on that Sunday evening in Cologne. We've shared so much with this squad that I want to experience it with them. Every member of the team deserves the Champions League.

Watch the first part of our interview with Nedim Remili.

(Credits: A. Gadoffre/TeamPics/PSG)