“It’s a decision over which I have no power”: French team goalkeeper Vincent Gérard sidelined by his Kiel club six months before the Olympics

La fin de carrière de Vincent Gérard s'annonce un peu plus compliquée que prévu. dpa – Jan Woitas

Gardien de l'équipe de France et ancien de Montpellier, Vincent Gérard a été informé par son club allemand du THW Kiel qu'il ne jouerait plus malgré une blessure des deux titulaires au poste.

One person's happiness necessarily causes another's unhappiness. While Montpellier Samir Bellahcene's contract with THW Kiel was extended until 2025 last December, his teammate in Germany Vincent Gérard sees his situation becoming complicated.

For good reason, recruited to compensate for Gérard's injury, Bellahcene performed very well with the Black and White, forming a satisfactory duo with Czech goalkeeper Tomas Mrkva. And as our colleagues from L'Equipe reveal, the goalkeeper of the France team (150 caps) is paying the price and has been notified by his leaders that he is not ;#39;would enter more into the rotations of the German team.

"They told me that unless there was an injury to the other two goalkeepers, I wouldn't fit in the rotations. It's not a question of performance, even if I'm good in training, they don't count on me to play, he explained to our colleagues. The latter explaining that despite the situation, no tension is to be deplored between the two men, especially since Gérard had lent his apartment to Bellahcene when he arrived in Germany.

Also read: "To obey blindly, I can't do it anymore" : at 37 years old, former Montpellier Vincent Gérard will end his career

A solution in another club ?

"This is a decision over which I have no power. It sure can be hard to manage. It's frustrating to be physically ready and not have a chance. There is nothing to do, I continue to work, to train with the pro group, says Gérard again, who had announced a few weeks ago to take his retirement of professional handball player at the end of the season.

Kiel's decision in any case puts a serious damper on the desire of the former PSG, Saint-Raphaël and Montpellier Handball player to participate in the next Olympic Games with the French team. The player and his agent could therefore look for a solution to obtain playing time in another team.

Also read: Euro 2024 handball: the Blues and their goalkeepers with a Montpellier accent

"If the coach considers that I have the level, that I can bring. I'm not going to go there and not be good and get hit. I take it in the sense: am I capable of bringing something to this team ?", he explained when announcing the end of his career.