That's it.
They are finally there.
Deprived of the championship since the premature end of the previous season, the players of PSG Handball receive Aix this Sunday (5 p.m.).
Beaten (28-29) Wednesday at home by Flensburg in the Champions League, they will be keen to open their victory counter.
Vincent Gérard (33 years old), one of the two Parisian goalkeepers with Yann Genty (38 years old), gives himself a few hours of the kickoff on the recovery.
The Covid crisis, the hellish pace, and the multiple deadlines until the Games, he talks about everything.
Without taking gloves.
How did you find yourself competing this week?
VINCENT GÉRARD.
We couldn't wait to get back on track after six months of withdrawal.
It is especially for the competition that we do this job.
The goal is of course a seventh consecutive title.
It is far from being won in advance with competition that is increasing year after year.
How has the Covid-19 changed things?
The world is now going through a complicated period full of uncertainties.
Conditions change, you have to be flexible.
We discovered a special atmosphere on Wednesday at the same time as everyone.
In our daily life, the right solution is to continue to move forward and to organize ourselves to continue playing normally.
We imagine that as president of the AJPH (Association of professional handball players), you feel particularly concerned by the situation?
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Health crisis: handball, basketball and volleyball championships under threat
PSG have an insane schedule, with almost one game every three days.
What do you think ?
We were already fighting against the hellish pace before the health crisis.
Nothing has changed.
It's up to everyone to make an effort and be attentive, on the other hand the League must show more flexibility and adaptation.
At the end of December, there will be the Final Four of the 2019-2020 Champions League ...
It's still a gruesome situation.
We will meet in front of us guys (Sander Sagosen in Kiel and Rodrigo Corrales in Veszprem) who were our teammates last year.
It would have been necessary to do this final phase in August, as for football.
Except that the EHF (European federation) does not have the means of UEFA ... So we do the least harm.
There is still a major title at the end!
Of course, this is important for all of us and for the clubs involved.
It may not be the end of a season, but it remains the most beautiful of European competitions, with the four most beautiful teams on the grid.
Next year, there will be the France team, which will compete in the World Championship and try to qualify for the Games.
Do you have a feeling of revenge after the last setbacks?
Sort of.
When you are used to bringing back medals, it is difficult to stay on setbacks.
It will be the moment to get back in battle order, with an operation to rethink, such as the management of injuries.
I can assure you that there is a real desire to become the best again.
A word about Yann Genty, whom you rub shoulders with in the France team and who is now your partner in Paris?
We've been dragging our sneakers together for a long time!
Yann will also bring his knowledge.
It's always good to have two experienced goalies in a group.
