At the World Championship in Sweden he won Gold for the second time in his life. On Sunday Bertrand Gille will face a lot of his team mates from the successful French national team: in the VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League HSV Hamburg play host to Montpellier Agglomeration HB.

ehfCL.com: On Sunday Hamburg will face Montpellier. Is it a strange situation for you to play against your team mates from the French national team?

Bertrand Gille: It is not so unusual in our handball business to face your national team colleagues on club level in a rendezvous on court. But national team is national team, and club is club. So it is not strange to me.

ehfCL.com: Did the World Championship Gold medal push you in your job in Hamburg?

Bertrand Gille: This feeling and this Gold medal has given me a lot of strength. For me it was also good to feel that my body did not have any problems at all during the tournament. Now I have big objectives with HSV and want to win more titles.

ehfCL.com: How much did the French team miss your brother Guillaume who could not play in Sweden?

Bertrand Gille: It was absolutely cool to be in his arms after the final. I really missed him as we normally share room when we are with the national team. We phoned a lot during the World Championship so it was a real joy to me when he came to the final.

ehfCL.com: Hamburg won the first game in Montpellier – does this mean that HSV are the favourites again on Sunday?

Bertrand Gille: The first match was huge work, it was really tough, but we took the points well-deserved in the end. But on Sunday we will start at zero. I do not care which team is called favourites when we have matches ahead. But both teams want to win and we will see an interesting match.

ehfCL.com: Some only mention Nikola Karabatic when they talk about Montpellier – how do you rate your opponent? What are their strengths and weaknesses?

Bertrand Gille: We all know that Montpellier is not only Nikola Karabatic. They were French champions eight times in the last ten years – more often without him than with him. Coach Patrice Canayer is doing a great job in Montpellier and has formed a strong team.

ehfCL.com: HSV have three games ahead in the VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League. How big are your chances to become number one in the group?

Bertrand Gille: To be honest: to become group winners is a mathematical and theoretical calculation. We do not think about that. Our aim is to get the best possible base for the Last 16. And therefore we have to beat Montpellier.

ehfCL.com: Your team is already qualified for the next stage – how far do you think HSV can go this season?

Bertrand Gille: We want to get further than last season, which means that we are willing to reach the VELUX EHF FINAL4. We are clearly focused on this objective.

ehfCL.com: The fans in Hamburg want you and your brother Guillaume to stay at HSV and to extend your contract which is currently valid until the end of this season. How is the situation?

Bertrand Gille: It is looking good, we – this means my brother and me – are in the final stage of the negotiations. And we always negotiated together. I did not even have a look at offers from other German clubs. Here, there is only HSV for me.

VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League, Group Phase, Round 8
Sunday, 20 February 2011, 17:00 hrs (local time)
HSV Hamburg (GER) vs. Montpellier Agglomeration HB (FRA)