“In the Champions League, miracles often happen”: MHB are still cautious despite the nine-goal advantage against Kiel

The moment the ball left Rémi Desbonnet’s hand, the FDISstadium fell silent, checking the time as it passed, before exploding at the same time as the siren. In the last second, the MHB goalkeeper had just completed his performance with a second goal from the goal, after making 16 saves and dynamizing the team’s play for 60 minutes.

Above all, the France international (26 caps) had just given his team a nine-goal lead against THW Kiel (39-30) to see the Final 4 and Cologne move closer. “At this stage of the competition you have the tactics and then you have the ‘cojones’ what you put on the pitch and the desire.”analyzed Yanis Lenne, so valuable on Wednesday (7 goals).

Full to the brim, the FDI Stadium witnessed a concert from Valentin Porte’s teammates, also excellent, thanks to the constant defensive intensity and fast play that is so characteristic of MHB.

Jicha: “We need a little miracle next week

However, the captain and all his teammates were keen to point out that they did not yet have the ticket to Cologne in their hands even this far in advance. “Being nine goals ahead is not a situation we have experienced too much. We can be happy, but we have to come back straight away, it’s only a break, and in handball we saw monstrous things.”Porte declared.

After the tide on the German coast, Filip Jicha had great difficulty finding his words at a press conference, and still called for a reaction to the return.

“We are very disappointed, but it’s only the first half,” said the THW coach “I believe in a magical night in Kiel where our defenders will defend better, our goalkeepers will make more saves and our forwards will score goals a small miracle next week.”

If someone asks me which team in Europe is capable of coming back from nine goals down, I would answer Kiel without hesitation

Patrice Canayer, his counterpart in the two Champions Leagues (2003, 2018) with Montpellier after: “The problem is that in the Champions League miracles often happen. It is up to us to take on this challenge there, it will be a different story.”.

The man of the match in attack on Wednesday night and winner of the Champions League in 2019 with Vardar Skopje, Stas Skube saw many others also ignite: “We won by nine goals, that’s very good, but if someone asks me which team in Europe is capable of coming back nine goals, I will say Kiel without hesitation.”