Prokop: We want to win the group

The memories are still alive: Hypo has a chance to score from the 7-m line and reach the final, but Lada goalkeeper, Sidorova, saves the penalty in the very last minute of last year’s semi-final.  

On Friday, the Austrian champions host Togliatti again. Eurohandball.com talks to the manager of Hypo, Gunnar Prokop.

Eurohandball.com: Mr. Prokop, is it still painful when you think about the game against Lada last year?

Gunnar Prokop: Definitely not. This is gone, we moved on from this experience and have a better team by now. We are certainly not thinking about that penalty again.

Eurohandball.com: What are the strengths of this Lada team?

Gunnar Prokop: They have a great backcourt line. This is where most of the danger comes in their play. In addition, they have two players who won the World Championship in France: Maria Sidorova and Ludmilla Postnova played in the Russian starting line up. It will be difficult to stop Lada.

Eurohandball.com: So what does Hypo have to change to win this game?

Gunnar Prokop: We won’t change anything, because we were very successful with the system we played the first part of this Champions League season.

Eurohandball.com: Hypo are already qualified for the next group stage. How important is a win against Lada?

Gunnar Prokop: Very important! We want to finish on top of the group because it means better chances for the next draw. In that case we would play against only one group winner and two runners-ups.