Omeyer: "I love those big games"

Three times world champion, twice Olympic and European champion, four times VELUX EHF Champions League winner, 2008 world handball player of the year – Thierry Omeyer is one of the most successful players in handball history. And still the goalkeeper of THW Kiel is eager to win every match.

On Sunday (17:15 hrs. local time) he will face one of his favourite opponents in the ehfTV.com Match of the Week: Atlético Madrid. And Omeyer proved his brilliant form on Wednesday already, when he was the clear match winner for Kiel in the German top duel against EHF Cup participant Rhein Neckar Löwen by saving 60 percent of all shots.

In this interview with ehfCL.com the Frenchmen looks ahead on this last international match in 2012 and the chances Kiel have to catch up with the top ranked MKB Veszprém KC in Group B after his team already has two defeats on their account.

The ehfTV.com Match of the Week is streamed live free of charge on the internet platform www.ehfTV.com with English live commentary by Tom Ó Brannagáin.

ehfCL.com: You played an outstanding match against Löwen – do you feel a boost for the upcoming match against Madrid?

Thierry Omeyer: This was quite well, indeed. I love those big games, especially when we win them. But the whole team played superb and showed a brilliant match.

ehfCL.com: Does this big victory in the domestic duel grant THW Kiel wings and confidence for the top match of the VELUX EHF Champions League?

Thierry Omeyer: Yes, this was a highly important match for us. And finally it was not only the victory, but also the way we won this encounter, what was impressive. This was a formidable performance, a super-match.

ehfCL.com: On Sunday it will not be easier against Madrid. Are those matches against Atlético special duels?

Thierry Omeyer: It is always something special to face such a world class team. We really like to compete with  big opponents. Usually those duels of Kiel vs. Madrid are made for finals or semi-finals of the Champions League, this time it is “only” a match of the Group Phase. But this match has a huge significance for both sides, as Kiel and Madrid have lost some matches before.

ehfCL.com: Do you agree that only the winner of this match will have chances to catch-up with the top ranked Veszprém?

Thierry Omeyer: Kiel and Madrid returned to the winner’s way in their previous matches after some defeats. But still both do not have their fate in their own hands to catch-up with Veszprém, as they are ahead by four respectively six points already.

We want to beat Atlético, we want to win all matches to have the chances to come closer to Veszprém in our home match against them in February. But even if we win all matches, we still have to wait for any Veszprém lapse to be ahead of them. So currently the Hungarians have all aces in their hands.

ehfCL.com: You had so many decisive duels with Atlético before – on which players do THW Kiel have to focus on Sunday?

Thierry Omeyer: Madrid are extremely strong by involving their line player Julen Aguinagalde, but at the end of the day there is not a single player we have to checkmate, but all.

Madrid can score from every position, as they have world class players on every position, just look upon their back court axis. Knowing this, the defence will again be decisive. But if we will defend the same way as we did against Rhein Neckar Löwen, every opponent will get in big problems.

ehfCL.com: Which team is under bigger pressure on Sunday – Kiel or Madrid?

Thierry Omeyer: I do not want to say that there is a big pressure on both, as I am sure that Kiel and Madrid will qualify for the Last 16. But it is the duel of two world class teams which means the special excitement of this match.