Valentin, how do you experience this appointment as captain of the France team and what was your reaction when the staff proposed it to you?
Valentin Porte:
At first, I felt a lot of pleasure and immense pride that the staff thought of me. However, I did not say yes straight away and I asked for time to think it over because it was still a strong decision to be made. I thought about it for a good month and a few weeks ago, with the manager, we remembered and I told him that I accepted the job and the responsibilities that go with it.
Do you expect to feel a special emotion suddenly this weekend?
Depending on the absences of each other sometimes, I have already had the honor of being captain in selection three or four times, so that should be fine (smile). I try to take this armband as something normal, not exceptional. I must stay as I am. It'll just be Valentine's Day wearing an armband, so I wouldn't be any different. I want to keep my way of doing things. I want to continue to bring my zest for life and good humor to the group, I don't want to suddenly become someone else.
You are used to being very direct in front of the media. Are you going to have to weigh your speech as captain?
I'm not sure I read this in the captain's charter (smile). No, I'm not going to change. If I was chosen, it is for what I do good and bad. As for my outspokenness, I don't see why this should change. The day we are good, I would say it, and the day we are not, I would say it too. And then we will make sure to be better the next game.
When you look at how far you have come, it is assumed that here too you must feel a lot of pride…
Yes, always. Even if my dream ended with playing for the France team, not necessarily being its captain, it's an extraordinary honor. Maybe my level of play and my personality make the coach and the staff see me as a possible captain, and that's what I'm most proud of. It is gratifying that such a role can be seen through me. And that's why I must not change.
Guillaume Gille also insisted a lot on the role that Luka Karabatic will play as vice-captain. Does this mean that you will rather form a pair of captains?
Yes.
I take it like that.
I'm not a big fan of spotlights, of showcasing… I'm not very comfortable with all of this.
Suddenly, being accompanied by Luka and sharing the responsibilities makes me feel good.
All the more so with him, whom I appreciate a lot.
We share the same values and we are on the same wavelength handballistically and humanely.
Our duo can be a real added value for the whole team.
Nikola Karabatic is also a boss of this team. How, as captain, will you position yourself vis-à-vis a player of his stature?
I shared with him, with Guillaume Gille and with many other players because I did not want to accept this role if most did not feel that it was me. It was not the case. As far as Niko is concerned, he remains the undisputed number 1 leader of the team. If he had any problem with that or saw himself in that role, I'd rather not go. Moreover, I immediately asked “Gino” (Guillaume Gille) if he had spoken about it with Niko, who is the captain of the game and the heart. The latter gave me his support and I am happy. We have known each other for a number of years in the national team and we have shared a lot of things, on and off the field.
Now all you have to do is become a captain who lifts a trophy…
(Smiles) So that's another problem, since it has never happened to me in Montpellier yet. Obviously, when you become captain, you dream of winning with your team and lifting the trophy first. I just hope that in the France team, it will take me less time than in Montpellier.
On this stage of the Golden League, you will immediately be in the bath because, in addition to being captain, you will be one of the few executives ...
Yes, and very selfishly, that reassures me.
It may do me good not to start with all the monsters on the team (laughs).
This can allow me to impose my style little by little and take it easy.
It's new for me because club captain and selection captain, it has nothing to do with it.
I'll have to take my marks too.