Double Olympic champion (2008 and 2012) and quadruple world champion, handball player Nikola Karabatic has won many finals. He will follow this PSG-Bayern like a supporter, he who wears the same jersey as Mbappé and Neymar. The star of the French hand delivers his hopes of victory, and some advice to Thomas Tuchel's men to win the European Grail.
What is your feeling as we approach this historic final for Paris?
NIKOLA KARABATIC. It's going to be awesome. There were so many obstacles on the road: the championship canceled, players injured as the Champions League approached, like Kylian Mbappé, Keylor Navas, Marco Verratti, and then this Final 8 played in August. We couldn't dream of a better finish. It's going to be very hard, but I hope Paris will win.
How will you follow this final?
As for the quarter and the semi-final, probably with one of the players of the PSG handball. But the club is also trying to organize a safe retransmission and we would be invited.
Between players, have you made your predictions?
I'm not very good at forecasting. I will avoid speaking out so as not to bring bad luck to PSG (laughs) .
You who are used to the grand finals, how do you win?
There are no miracle recipes. The team that will know how to best manage the pressure of this great meeting will win. PSG have a big team, it would be incredible to win. I am behind them. You have to play as if your life depends on it. All the details matter, the smallest ball, the smallest action can make the difference.
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Exactly, Bayern Munich have already won five European titles and are used to Champions League finals. Isn't that a mental advantage?
No. For both teams, it's 50-50. They both dominate their national championships. Afterwards, logically, it can help to forget the pressure, as the PSG is not announced as ultra-favorite. It would have been different if it was Lyon face to face with this pressure to say to yourself: “If we lose, we look like imbeciles. "
The resumption of handball arrives in September with a new campaign in the Champions League, which is still refused to PSG. Could a footballer victory pave the way for you?
We are supporters of each other. We handball players are all behind them, we love the players who make up this team. After that there are two different clubs, but we know that when football is going well, all is well.
