THW Kiel goalkeeper Thierry Omeyer just returned from the World Championships in Sweden, where he won the title for the third time after 2001 and 2009. The 34-year-old Frenchman spoke to ehfCL.com about his recent title, his goals with Kiel and his upcoming trip to France.
ehfCL.com: Thierry Omeyer, how do you look back on the exciting and successful weeks behind you?
Thierry Omeyer: The time at the World Championship in Sweden was exhausting, but it was wonderful. We really enjoyed the tournament. In France there was a big celebration. But now I'm back and happy to be with THW Kiel and my team-mates.
ehfCL.com: Of all titles you have won, how important was this new title?
Thierry Omeyer: Each title has a special value. We have now for the first time succeeded in defending a title. For the second time in a row we are world champions, but not enough, we have now won the fourth consecutive major championship. A great feeling, there was a fantastic atmosphere in the team.
ehfCL.com: In the German league you are second, but five points behind leaders HSV Hamburg. How do you see your chances?
Thierry Omeyer: We recently defeated title contenders Füchse Berlin and leapfrogged them into second place. That was the first big game for us in the second half of the season, and we were determined to fight and thus to signalise our will to win.
In the rest of the season we will only concentrate on our own games, which we want to win, all of them. Still I believe that if HSV don’t lose any or only a few points, they will manage to become German champions.
ehfCL.com: In the VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League, what is Kiel’s goal in the last three games of the Group Phase?
Thierry Omeyer: As I said, we want to win all of the next three games. That would make us finish on first place in Group A. It's simple.
ehfCL.com: What are your expectations for THW’s away game in Chambery on Saturday?
Thierry Omeyer: For every player under contract abroad it is always special to return to your home country with your club. Jerome Fernandez and me as current world champions have certainly celebrated for France, where our heart is, but of course we cannot do that during those 60 minutes. So while we fight for Kiel, the 5,000 spectators will hope for a Chambery victory.
ehfCL.com: In the French league Chambery is in lead, followed by Montpellier. In the difficult Group A of the they are on position four. Is Chambery a positive surprise for you?
Thierry Omeyer: No, not really. Chambery were reinforced well before the season, they play an aggressive defence. Before the start of the season nobody underestimated them, everybody in France expected a duel with Montpellier. Chambery took advantage of injury problems in Montpellier to win the first big match between these two teams.
In the VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League I believe that if Chambery take at least one point in their last three games, that might be enough to go through to the round of the Last 16. Then again, Chambery will not meet the easiest opponents, including us, Barcelona and the Rhein-Neckar Löwen - three very strong opponents.