Handball:”Communication not optimal”: Self-critical Prokop under close observation

After the association’s surprising confession of loyalty, Christian Prokop is self-critical. But from now on, however, the national coach will be under closer scrutiny.

The EM disaster? Refurbished. The vehement criticism of the last few weeks? Digests. The fuss about his future? Checked. After “very intensive” weeks, Christian Prokop puffed away on Tuesday and said in an interview with the SID,”I’m looking forward to the tasks ahead of me,”said the national handball coach.

These tasks are very demanding. The second chance, which the DHB presidency gave him on Monday after weeks of European Championship analysis, is also an obligation for Prokop. Already in eleven months at the home World Championship a medal for the German handball team has to be won.

“We all played a weak European championship together. Now it’s time to stand together, learn the right conclusions and prepare us as a unit for the major sporting event, the World Cup in our own country,”said Prokop.

In the coming weeks, however, the 39-year-old will not only be in demand on the handball field. After the atmospheric disturbances between him and parts of the team, it’s all about the right response.

Prokop knows that. He kept silent for weeks while the handball republic talked its heads off. Now the Saxon, who had been repeatedly accused of “consulting resistance” and “lack of communication”, also acknowledged his own mistakes.

“The communication with and among each other was certainly not optimal. I picked up too little of the team during the European Championships and too seldom involved them in important decisions,”said Prokop:”Now it is important to incorporate the results of the review, especially in dialogue, into the tasks ahead. The mutual exchange must now be “open, honest and goal-oriented in order to bundle all strengths”.

Steffen Weinhold, a seasoned veteran, also swore to his team-mates that it is now up to us players to reassure the coach,”said the backroom player to the Kieler Nachrichten (KN):” Everyone must now take a step towards each other. If three, four, five players break away, we’re short of quality.”

According to KN, at least three players are said to have threatened to resign if Prokop continues. With regard to the home World Cup, it is “very important that all players are there, and some of them will still be thinking about it after this decision,”said Weinhold.

Prokop itself will probably not exclude any player after the turbulent last weeks. There will not be a new start for the time being, as some of you have said recently:”I know that the team that has played in Croatia has much more strength and potential than what we have shown together”.

The fact that the national coach is now (even) more closely monitored was already evident on Tuesday. While ex-world handball player Daniel Stephan flagged the adherence to Prokop as a “blatant false decision”, the league association increased the pressure on the coach and the DHB leadership “The only thing that can help people and Christian Prokop is success”, HBL managing director Frank Bohmann told the SID.

The continuation of the cooperation with Prokop is a “decision that we have to accept”, said Bohmann:”There is a certain risk involved, but the assessment of the topic would have been very ambivalent in the league”. We will continue to seek critical dialogue with the goal of success.”

At the beginning of April all eyes will be on Prokop again: Should there be any problems against Serbia in the international matches (4th place), Prokop will be the first choice. and 7. April) a setback, it will become clear how the peace of the castle in German handball is going to be.