Patrice Canayer: “We talked little and we acted, and that suits me”, satisfied the MHB coach after Zagreb and before hosting Chartres

Après leur bon match à Zagreb, Montpellier reçoit Chartres ce samedi en championnat. XinHua – Luka Stanzl

Nestled between the two matches of its Champions League round of 16 against Zagreb, MHB hosts Chartres this Saturday (8 p.m.) during the 22nd day of the Starligue, after a few hectic days internally.

A coach and players who fall out through the media after a bad result against PSG in the semi-final of the Coupe de France (32-35), a president who intervenes and a rather positive result in the Champions League, Montpellier Handball experienced a few days in roller coaster mode. But the main thing is elsewhere because Patrice Canayer has achieved his goals.

"We talked little and we acted, and that suits me, explains Canayer. We had the attitudes that correspond to this competition and this level of competition. It wasn’t perfect. But from the moment I feel that we are in the right attitudes, I am not afraid of anything with this team."

Starligue: the ranking and the program for the 22nd day

The old people counted

After poking his team where it hurts, one of the countless times in his long career, the Montpellier coach witnessed a good performance from his team on hostile terrain. Although the end of the match was not in its favor, MHB still retained all its chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals, where Kiel awaits, after this draw (27-27) . Particularly thanks to the experience of Stas Skube, Diego Simonet and even Captain Valentin Porte.

"How do you think we managed the week between the two matches in Pamplona in 2003, or between Saint-Raphaël and the Final 4 won in 2018, the MHB coach is surprised. I have the impression that we are discovering something exceptional. How do you think other sports work??" Before continuing:"Objectively, I am two months away from ending my career. I could be comfortable, be calm and manage like a good father. Make sure we have tea together…hellip; But no! My goal is to win, I get paid for that.

"We're in a week where we can lose everything"

Returning at dawn on Thursday morning by private plane, the players had the day to rest, both physically and psychologically. They will really need it because Chartres arrives this Saturday (8 p.m.), a real trap match between the two rounds before the round of 16 return against the Croatians, Wednesday evening.

"We're in a week where we could lose everything, and I don't want that, warns Canayer. So I'm doing everything I can to ensure that we win, it’s perhaps awkward, everyone can have their opinion. But for the moment, I'm the one managing the team."

The MHB group: Bolzinger, Desbonnet. Karlsson, Simonet, Pellas, Fernandez, A. Lenne, Skube, Prat, Konan, Panic, Monte, (cap.) Porte, Y. Lenne, Berthier, Nacinovic. I subscribe to read more