Cologne (Germany) (AFP)

The seasons repeat themselves and are similar for the Parisian handball players: the PSG finished for the third time third in four participations of the Champions League, after its victory against Veszprem 31 to 26, during the "Final Four" of the 2019 edition / 2020 Tuesday in Cologne (Germany).

This match for third place opposed two disappointed teams, more consistent in recent seasons with four "Final Four" in five years for Paris, and six in seven seasons for Veszprem (four finals lost), but still chasing a first coronation European.

PSG finished 3rd in 2016, 2018 and 2020 and stumbled in the final against Vardar Skopje in 2017.

After their defeat in the semi-finals on Monday, PSG against Barcelona, ​​Veszprem against Kiel, the players had less than 24 hours to re-mobilize, a delay which is both the difficulty and the charm of this competition.

"Psychologically, we have to get back to a future battle which will be fierce and hard to get a place on the podium," reacted PSG rear Elohim Prandi.

"I'm proud of the team, we were able to raise our heads, that's an extremely positive point."

With a starting seven largely changed compared to the day before (four changes), Paris had a complicated start to the meeting (5th, 0-3), in a Lanxess-Arena behind closed doors, and very silent, because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Raul Gonzalez's players have come up against goalkeeper Rodrigo Corrales on several occasions, who played in the red and blue jersey last season and was the architect of the qualification of PSG for this "Final Four", like Mikkel Hansen, author of two missed 7m throws (4th, 18th).

But at the other end of the field, Yann Genty, tenured in the goal in place of Vincent Gérard and who was taking his first steps in a "Final Four", answered him (45% efficiency in the first period) and his saves allowed his teammates to take three goals at half-time (14-11).

- Already turned to the next -

The Parisians then mastered the meeting and maintained the distance, without ever being really worried.

Erased Monday night against Barcelona, ​​Elohim Prandi by his six goals recalled his potential, co-top scorer on the Paris side with Nedim Remili.

"We are still under construction, there are a lot of things that happened during this first part of the season, we had to adapt each time. On this + Final Four +, it was the same thing", conceded the captain and pivot of PSG Luka Karabatic, at the microphone of beIN Sports.

A simple allusion to highlight the absence of three major players in the workforce: Nikola Karabatic injured in mid-October, as well as Luc Steins and Henrik Toft Hansen, tested positive for the coronavirus on Saturday and Sunday.

In the club, the priority of Mikkel Hansen's teammates is now to "work harder, to come back even stronger" and qualify for the "Final Four" of the 2021/2021 edition, already underway, in six months (12 June 13, 2021).

And finally to win a first European coronation, set as a goal since the arrival of the Qataris at the head of the club eight years ago.

Before that, the French internationals will join the Blues in Créteil to prepare for the World Championship in Egypt (January 13-31, 2021).

© 2020 AFP