VIDEO. Kiel – MHB: “It’s too horrible to believe”, “we missed an incredible opportunity”… post-match reactions

Johansson et les “Kielers” ont fini par faire exploser les Montpelliérains de Porte. MAXPPP

Between disillusionment, tears in his eyes and amazement, Patrice Canayer and his players reacted to their terrible defeat in Kiel (31-21), Thursday May 2, and their elimination in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Patrice Canayer, MHB coach: "Congratulations to Kiel for this victory and their qualification. We couldn't win but we could qualify. Unfortunately, we succeeded in neither one nor the other. Firstly because Kiel was stronger than us physically and mentally. They were able to keep the pressure on for 60 minutes and obtain the qualification which was decided in the last two minutes.

We were greatly diminished, Simonet was not able to play to his full potential. There is also the nature of our workforce. We have a team with quality players but we have too many young players who lack experience. We have had experienced players to manage this kind of competition and context.

#Handball La réaction de Patrice Canayer après la défaite du MHB à Kiel pic.twitter.com/YVBuUH8ZGP

— Midi Libre Sports (@MidiLibreSports) May 2, 2024

It was difficult to find solutions offensively. We conceded 31 goals, which is roughly within our standards when we play Kiel. Unfortunately, we didn't have the audacity, especially in the transition game, we were afraid and therefore it's hard to play at a high level. I hope that it will be useful for them in the future and that it will make them grow."

"It's going to leave a mark"

Valentin Porte, captain of the MHB:"It’s too horrible to believe. Everything was sewn perfectly for them until the last second. I'm disgusted because beyond the match we knew it was going to be hard. We manage to stay at five or six goals but we give them the match due to errors and a monstrous lack of experience, that's what drives me crazy. We shoot the goalkeeper in the head, we miss penalties, we talk to the referee and we take two minutes… hellip; Things like that where you shoot yourself in the foot. All that didn't allow us to make a series and keep a gap. Little by little, it got worse and ended up being perfect for them. We even had a shot at the end to tear away the penos… It’s horrible but they had a great match.

They continued to be very strong in defense, we lost a little bit of legs too. Lots of details where when you don't take shelter first and foremost you can smile at them and it works in their favor. In the end we gave everything, my calf pulled, Diego played injured and pulled until the end. But we are not rewarded so it will leave its mark. I'm disgusted, it's horrible, but tonight we didn't show our face to qualify."

Yanis Lenne, MHB right winger:"When you're nine goals ahead… For me we didn’t push enough. It’s hard for the team because the group deserves better. We made mistakes in experience, we took stupid two minutes. My shot at the goalkeeper's head doesn't make the end of the match any easier. We spend a lot of time being inferior. They were very effective. But we paid for playing one less this whole time.

In attack, we didn't find the fluidity of the first leg. We were forcing ourselves, we were breaking our teeth on this defense without playing as a team. They controlled their match and we suffered it, it’s a big blow for everyone."

Rémi Desbonnet, MHB goalkeeper : "We knew it was going to be like that but we knew’ is liquefied. We too quickly got into a difficult dynamic whereas ’ 6 we still had a head start. We believed in it until the last minute, until Bryan's last shot which could take us to the penos. It’s over, it’s over…"

Karl Konan, MHB defender: "We missed out on an incredible opportunity. When you're in Kiel and you don't score, it's fatal. We were not subjected to their aggressiveness, we were too, but we were too unstable and not diligent enough in the duels. It's going to be hard to get up. Missing out on a Final 4 is complicated but it's up to us to use that for the future."