The French handball team has a dynamic to maintain. And a trophy cabinet to fill, even more. After silver at the Euros (2020), Olivier Krumbholz’s players followed up with an Olympic title in Tokyo (2021) and a second place at the Worlds (2021). So, a few days before starting this new competition on the Old Continent (from November 4 to 20, in North Macedonia, Montenegro and Slovenia), the Blues want even more.
For this purpose, the France team can count on the Messina Chloé Valentini. After a timid first season in Moselle, the left winger is making a remarkable start to the season, like his club, undefeated and first in the championship and author of solid performances in the Champions League. When starting the preparation with the selection, the 27-year-old player spoke with 20 minutes her joy of donning the blue jersey, with the aim of winning her first Euro.
How do you explain your amazing start to the season?
It took me a little time to adapt to Metz, where I arrived last year after ten years in Besançon, where I was in my little cocoon, in the club and with the family. So, I worked a lot physically this summer. My objective was really to arrive in my best shape at the start of the season. I put a lot of ingredients to get there, and I’m glad it paid off. And I will do everything to keep it going.
For Metz Handball, the highlight of this start to the season was the feat in Györ (24-28), in Hungary, five-time winner of the Champions League…
With all the matches that we have with the club, playing every three days, we skip the matches that we play a little and we quickly move on to something else. But, it’s true that it’s still an important match, which you have to keep in mind, for morale, and to keep moving forward with Metz, because Györ hadn’t lost at home for seven years. So it’s still phew to win. Even if we don’t dwell too much on it, it’s still a top performance, because I don’t think that many teams will take points there. But the season remains long, you have to manage to switch quickly.
Precisely, you played a Champions League match on Saturday, won against Zagreb, and the next day you were in Paris for the gathering with the Blues to prepare for this Euro. How is the switch between the two?
Me, I am someone who does not project too far. Suddenly, on Saturday, I was concentrated in the club, and then, once I arrived at the course, it was gone. I manage to switch quite easily, perhaps because I have known this situation for a few years, and we are used to alternating between the two, the club and the national team, all year round. It’s pretty easy for me, and I get straight to focus.
During the last friendly matches with Les Bleues against Germany, in September, you said that the DNA of the France team was missing. What is the DNA of this team?
If I had to define it, it would be combativeness in defense, being together to destroy the opponent’s attack. And, during the last internship, in September, it had been a while since we had met and, I think it was the first time that there had been such a long break, so it It’s always a little difficult to find automatisms and to put a maximum of energy, whereas we know that it is one of our strong points, with the defense. The matches played against Germany, we weren’t too good defensively. But, now, I don’t worry about the team, because I know that with the preparation, we will have all the ingredients to reach the maximum at the Euro.
The French team remains on silver at the Euro and the Worlds, and gold at the Tokyo Olympics. Can we go beyond the Olympic title, emotional level?
I don’t know yet, I’ll get back to you in a month. Afterwards, it is certain that the gold medal at the Olympic Games remains my best experience. And then, the route to the Olympics was very difficult, which made this gold medal even more beautiful. But all competitions are different, all medals too, so emotions have to change too, I think.
Your coach in Metz, Manu Mayonnade, is also the former coach of the Netherlands, whom you will find during the group stage…
We haven’t talked about it at all, since we play every three days, we don’t have time to discuss a meeting that will be held much later. And, then, in a club, it’s not the appropriate place to talk about it either.
Source: 20minutes
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