Nedim, do you still have any regrets about the quarter-final first leg loss against Kiel, a game you have played for a long time?
Nedim Remili:
This is no longer the time to have them.
Obviously, we would have liked to bring back a better result to better tackle this return match.
But today, it is especially important to draw the right conclusions from this first leg, to analyze well what has not been and what, conversely, has worked well and can allow us to qualify.
Exactly, what was interesting about this quarter to go?
Lots of things in my opinion. Already, the intensity we put in for more than 40 minutes has been excellent. The proof since we have been ahead for a very long time. We also put a lot of energy into defending hard despite their multiple assaults, as Kiel is clearly a very offensive formation. It's a team that is not afraid of contact, of a duel and I find that we have responded well defensively. Simply, the most complicated in front of them is to manage to hold out for 60 minutes, and not only 45 or 50. It is on this consistency in the effort that this return match should be played, with a few tactical points that i will keep it to myself if you don't mind (smile). But to put it simply, a lot will depend on the energy that we will be able to put offensively,and even more defensively to upset them.
You talk about energy. This will be your third very important match in a week after the quarter-first and the final of the Coupe de France on Saturday (won against Montpellier). Are you worried about running out?
No, the lack of energy is only felt during training.
For the rest, we all wait so much for these matches that the desire compensates for any notion of fatigue.
It's a lot of fun to play in the league, but at the end of the day what we want is to go after titles and it's that kind of match that brings us the closest.
It is not easy to join the Final Four of the Champions League.
I know that PSG have gotten used to being there all the time in recent years, except in 2019, but it's very complicated against the best teams in the world.
So energy, on this crazy week act 3, we will have it and I hope it goes well.
You mention this consistency of PSG to reach the last four but so far without succeeding in winning the Grail. What does your team need to achieve this?
In view of the latest editions, we can see that there is no winning formula.
There is no such thing as a favorite and an outsider.
The Final Four is a crazy weekend that brings together the best handball players on the planet and it's quite simply very hard.
You have two matches in two days, which are played on details.
This is the third time that I have participated in it and the first time we lost by a goal in the final in the last second.
I still remember this action very well, with "Titi" (Thierry Omeyer) who is very close to taking this last shot from the leg and if after the match goes into overtime, we know that the end could have been totally different.
That's the magic of the Final Four, and that's what makes it so exciting and attractive.
"My future ? My decision is already made ”
Having been so close doesn't create frustration year after year?
No, it created above all a desire to tell ourselves that it was played for a goal and that it could have turned in our direction that day.
Several departures have been formalized, such as those of Mikkel Hansen and Vincent Gérard. Is this the year or never for PSG to win this Champions League before the start of a new cycle?
I don't think so because PSG still have a bright future ahead of them. Especially since all these announced departures will not arrive until 2022, so there will still be next season (laughs). More seriously, I don't believe this is the start of a new cycle. Everyone is waiting for us at the turn because we are PSG, there are Qatari investors… The demands are greater on us, and also blame them when we fail. But that's how it is, that's the recent history of the club. Today we are doing it pretty well, although it still lacks that final Champions League success. But it is not because we dominate an entire season that we necessarily win it. We saw it during the last edition with Barcelona who were in great shape and who failed to win it. Our consistency in the Final Four is already an achievement.
There are also rumors about your departure. Will you be among the starters in 2022?
(Smile) For now, I'm only focused on this return quarter-final.
Now is not the time to talk about this.
There, the most important thing is to be focused and united to dominate Kiel.
It will be a great test, especially if they get their best player, Sander Sagosen back.
So for now, this is my only concern.
Winning, or not, will the Champions League have an impact on your choice to leave or stay?
My decision is already made, so it will have no impact.
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