Set to call time on his professional handball career at the end of the 2018-2019 season, Thierry Omeyer spoke to us about how he will manage his final campaign at the highest level, his role as captain and the Rouge et Bleus' upcoming objectives.
Psg.fr: How is working with the new coaching staff?
Thierry Omeyer: My relationship with Raul Gonzalez and Jesus developed easily and naturally. Right from the start, they made the effort to speak French. They're two coaches who work very hard and who harbor lofty ambitions. They make sure that our game is perfected quickly. It's a Spanish style, with tactical approaches that are different from what we had before.
Is it difficult to break these old habits?
Every player is sued to change. Many of us have played for other teams, where we had different coaches with specific demands. This is also the case when you switch from club teams to national teams. Everyone adapts, even though sometimes it takes a bit more time.
Do you think that, in your first few matches this season, observers will be a bit more lenient than they otherwise might be?
For us, the level of expectation remains extremely high. Expectations from outside the team will remain high too. Everyone expects us to win our matches. We know that we're up against some very stiff competition and that just because we play for Paris Saint-Germain, it doesn't mean we'll win easily. We need to perform and play the best handball possible.
You have inherited the captaincy from Daniel Narcisse. How is it going adapting to this new status?
It's going pretty naturally… Over the last few years, Daniel was sometimes injured and I stepped in as captain. I also captained the France team from time to time and I wore the armband with some of my former clubs too, so I know the role well. I won't change how I go about things. I'm an experienced player I try to pass a positive energy on to my team. It doesn't matter how much or how little a player plays, I will make sure that everyone is invested and using their qualities to help the team.
Is it different beginning this season with the knowledge that it will be your last?
I'm not thinking about it at every moment of every match. But yes, it is special. I thought about it a lot at he beginning of our pre-season, as that was when I started doing things for the last time. I think it will home much harder towards the end of the season. I want to make the most of each moment, each match and each training session. I also want to enjoy each moment with my teammates because, as a high-level athlete, we're lucky enough to experience some amazing moments. I don't think you come across a lot of these moments in everyday life.
Does this make your personal objectives more important?
I will keep trying to be at my best every time I take the court. I'm a sportsman, so obviously I'll try to win a maximum of titles, but really that depends on how the season plays out.
The Velux EHF Champions League begins next week. What do you make of the group you were drawn in?
The two upper groups are at a very high level. We have opponents we know well, like Flensourg, Szeged, Celje… But also others we don't know, but who are used to playing in the Champions League, like Zaporozhye. That will be a complicated trip and we will need to prepare carefully for it. Then there is also Nantes, whom we are used to crossing paths with in many different competitions. This all-French duel will be an interesting and special one against a very high-level club.
Is the objective still to win the competition?
Our objectives are ambitious, but for now we're simply focused on the group stage. We want tot urn in good performances in this stage, as we have in recent seasons. Of course we want to make it to another Final4, which would be proof of some pretty impressive consistency on our part. We always want more!
To check out our interview with Thierry Omeyer on video, click here.
(Credits: TeamPics/PSG)