Erick Mathé a fait son retour à Montpellier cet été. JEAN MICHEL MART
En marge du Mondial qui a débuté mardi, les non-sélectionnés du Montpellier Handball ont repris l’entraînement. L’occasion pour le coach héraultais de revenir sur les premiers mois de compétition.
His return to the MHB this summer, his adaptation
“Since my return to Montpellier (Erick Mathé had been Patrice Canayer's assistant from 2015 to 2018), I didn't want to spread myself too thin, I focused on the field. With the new staff, we knew we were expected. We had to take charge of the team but also learn to work together. It was new for Baptiste (Nicot, his assistant) or Frédéric (Marcerou, his physical trainer). We are rather on the right track. I also happened to take a step back. When you no longer have the whistle in your mouth, you see things differently.”
The first part of the season (the MHB is currently 3rd in Starligue, 3 points behind Nantes and Paris)
“From an accounting point of view, we are where we need to be to win titles. In all three competitions (Starligue, Coupe de France, European League), we are well on our way. In the championship, there is this draw against Toulouse just before the break which is a stain. Especially if we refer to the physiognomy of the match (long in favor of the MHB). Then, there are the two defeats in Paris and Nantes… Two defeats out of 23 matches. Overall, it was often the manner. Will we materialize in the coming months? ? Can the team still progress? ? That's another story.”
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The good points and the hard knocks
“The MHB has found the Valentin Porte of previous years in his dynamism, his energy, his performance, his physical form. His international retirement has freed him from a weight. Valentin has really had an impact during this first phase of the championship. Our defense has also been very efficient (the MHB has the best defense in Starligue: 391 goals conceded). It is a team effort of course but Karl (Konan) has still been dominant. The team has also adapted well to the injuries of Stas Skube, at the end of the summer preparation, and of Kyllian Villeminot afterwards.
Unfortunately for us, if we gained time at the restart because the group had changed little, these two hard blows, in key positions (half-center), have changed the situation a little in terms of collective.”
“A capital week”
The return after the World Cup
“Right away, in one week, we will play on three tables (MHB-Aix in the Coupe de France on February 8; MHB-Lucerne in the European League on the 11th; MHB-Nantes in the Starligue on the 15th). For me, these are three crucial matches. It will be a crucial week during which we hope to make an impression. Ideally, we should make it three out of three (three matches, three wins). Everything will depend a lot on the fitness of our internationals when they return from the World Cup on Wednesday, February 5. That day, we will open the surprise package and see where they are physically but also psychologically.”
“The team that is emerging is very “tempting”
Departures and Arrivals
“Next summer, the group will change. I think that the team that is emerging (with the arrivals of Benjamin Richert, David Balaguer, Léon Plantin, Jack Thurin, Rogerio Moraes, Zvonimir Srna and Augustin Casado) is very competitive, very tempting. There are not only newcomers but also experienced players.
Can these movements create tensions within the group by the end of the season? No, I don't believe it. Take Karl (Konan), we've known for a year that he's going to PSG. We can't say that he's having a bad season. On the contrary, his desire is really to win a title with the MHB before leaving. Same for Yanis Lenne (the latter has just made his departure to Veszprém official). The current squad – those who are going leave, those who will stay – still have the opportunity to win a title. This has not happened for six years, I remind you. Before looking ahead, there is still this season to finish and great things to do.”
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