
Mikkel Hansen sees room for improvement
January 17, 2017
Denmark was able to hang on to a win against arch-rival Sweden, on Monday, in Paris, but almost wasted a four-goal lead at half-time. Β Danish superstar Mikkel Hansen wasn’t too happy about his team’s performance down the stretch and thanked goalkeeper Niklas Landin, who had a spectacular game. Β I talked to the PSG player in the mixed zone after the match.
Congratulations on a hard-fourth victory tonight, what did it make so difficult for you to escape with two points?
MH: Β First of all, I think we managed quite a good first half, everything was under control. Β We even had a six-goal lead just before the break. Β But you know, if you start the second half like we did, you cannot go far in the tournament. Β They got on a four-goal run very fast and obviously gained a lot of confidence. Β On the other side, it was a great game from the guys, because we managed to win when we didn’t play very well in the second half. Β Getting the two points gives us a lot of confidence. Β But we have to talk about the fact that we cannot start the second half like we did today. Β Obviously, if you want to go far in a tournament, it’s not possible for a team like us to play as slow as we did in the second half.
Hans Lindberg said earlier that you still have to improve a lot, if you want to win the title. Β Do you agree with him?
MH: Β Of course! Β But that’s great, it’s great that we have a lot of things to work with. Β Thatβs always a pleasure as a player, that you have a lot of things that you can change to get better. Β So after a game like this one, when we had everything in our hands and when we didn’t manage to seal the deal – of course we have to improve a lot.
One final questions regards the workload. Β In the Bundesliga a lot of players are complaining about a tough schedule. Β You, personally, played in the Olympics, the European championship, and you made it to the Champions League Final. Β How’s your physical condition at the moment?
MH: Β I think it’s okay – it’s early in the tournament but as you say, we have a problem. Β After my Olympics, I had one day in Copenhagen, then I had to go back to Paris. Β There, I had some practice sessions and I think six days thereafter we went to Qatar, played three games, went back and then the season started. Β We played two games per week since then, and it was great for me to get back home before Christmas with ten days off. Β If you see the schedule it was great to have some days off, especially to free your mind. Β Right now, I’m okay, but as you say, it’s an issue, not only physically, but also mentally.
Why is it such a problem mentally?
MH: Β Mentally it’s difficult to be there every day, all the time. Β Itβs a problem for the big teams and the big players. Β When you play on a big team you’re expected to win every time. Β Every time you step on court, you have to play on a very high level. Β You have to win in the league, you have to win in the cup. Β We have two cups in France. Β You have to win with the club, you have to win with the national team. Β It’s the same players who play all these games. Β So the underdogs are very satisfied because they play once a week. Β I understand this. Β But for the clubs who go for the league title or winning the Champions League, or the cup title, they do have a problem.