New Aalborg Coach Optimistic

Aalborg DH will play Champions League for the third time. The Danish team have to start with qualification matches despite their good record in the previous years (semi-finals in 2005/06 and quarterfinals last season).

The new head coach, Leif Gautestad from Norway, has high expectations to meet while trying to integrate many new players into the team.

Eurohandball.com talks to Gautestad, who joined Aalborg from Norwegian Gjerpen.

Eurohandball.com: What was attractive for you in coaching Aalborg DH?

Leif Gautestad: After coaching a number of male and female top teams in Norway I found that the time has come to make a step. I also played in Denmark and Aalborg seems to be an attractive club – they always want to be in the Danish top – so I accepted their invitation.

Eurohandball.com: What is your impression of your new team?

Leif Gautestad: It is hard to say after so few training sessions, but I know that the squad has a lot of potential, and it is very ambitious. Aalborg is a club where there is always a lot going on. Furthermore, I’m happy that people here are so keen on watching handball.

Eurohandball.com: What are your expectations for the coming season?

Leif Gautestad: I hope and believe that we can compete with Viborg, Slagelse and Ikast for the top of the Danish league and qualify for the championship play-offs again. I’ really looking forward to the Champions league qualifiers and I hope we can do well in the Champions League too. But then again: if you are on top in Denmark, you are automatically on top on an international level as well.

Eurohandball.com: What do you think about the chances in the Champions League qualification group at the end of September?

Leif Gautestad: I know the Ukrainian and the Greek team from before. They are teams we should be able to defeat. However, we will play in Greece and the hosts will probably prove to be difficult opponents after all. Regarding the Ukrainians, Danish women’s handball does not have positive memories of Ukraine lately. The Danish national team was defeated by Ukraine in the World Championship play-offs, so let’s hope we can take revenge now. Anyway, we realise that we will probably have to win all three matches that weekend in order to win the group and qualify for the main tournament. I expect to be able to do that.

Eurohandball.com: If you do so, you will be in one group with Krim Ljubljana, Zvenigorod Zvezda and FC Nürnberg. What do you think about that?

Leif Gautestad: It is a very tough group – maybe the toughest in the whole Champions League group stage. However, I believe we can also do well in that group. If we manage to qualify, as I expect, our new players will be better integrated by that time. As there are many new players in the team for the coming season, it will take some time to find our style and way of playing. No matter how, O I still expect us to be able to do well in the qualifiers as well as in the first group phase.