Astonishing Performance from an Ill Jurack  

One of the positive signs for Viborg HK at their 32-32 home draw against Lada Togliatti was their right back Grit Jurack.

Though just out of bed after suffering from flu, the 29-year old German international managed to play almost the entire 60 minutes. She scored nine goals and fought well throughout the match.

It was no wonder that Eurohandball.com talked to a tired Grit Jurack after the match.

Grit Jurack: I really don’t know how I managed to make such an effort today. Right now I can only think of getting back to bed. I am extremely tired, but I’m glad that the whole team fought very well in the second half and managed to get back into the game.

Eurohandball.com: But why did you have to get seven goals down before your team reacted?

Grit Jurack (laughing): We wanted to wake the spectators up. No, seriously, I do not know why, but we were taken a bit by surprise by their pace. Luckily we got back into the match when we strengthened our defence.

Eurohandball.com: Usually a home draw in the first leg is not a particularly good result, but the fact that you caught up with a seven goal difference may grant some optimism in this particular case?

Grit Jurack: I think so too. If you look at the results in the Champions League this year and last year, I think there is a tendency towards more equal matches and tighter results. I actually believe that we can win in Russia.

Eurohandball.com: Your team has been somewhat inconsistent in this year’s Champions League – in the group phase as well as in the first leg of the quarterfinal. Did you feel pressure for being defending champions?

Grit Jurack: Personally, I have not been thinking about that at all. It is correct, of course, that we had our ups and downs in this tournament, but now at least we managed to get up after having been down. I am convinced that we can make a superb effort in Russia.

Eurohandball.com: So we may still consider Viborg among the favourites for the title?

Grit Jurack: Oh yes, we will give everything we can to claim the trophy again.