Győr work as a team

Győr have taken a two-goal lead in Russia before the second leg of the semi-finals against Zvenigord Zvezda. The result came as a surprise to many as Győr lost their star and playmaker Görbicz before the game with an ankle injury.

Győr coach, Csaba Konkoly, tells Eurohandball.com how the team coped with the first challenge.

Eurohandball.com: You clinched a surprise victory in Russia. What was the key to the success?

Csaba Konkoly: We prepared with double intensity for the game. We lost Anita Görbicz and we had to play in a modified structure.

Eurohandball.com: Did you expect such a performance from Bradeanu and from the team in defence?

Csaba Konkoly: A basic principle of our club is that handball is about defence, an attacking defence. This worked well and also Pálinger in the goal added a good performance.

On the other hand, we did not try to find a substitute for Görbicz. We tried to find four or five players – Hornyák, Tomori, Bradeanu, the young Kovacsics and also Vérten – who could share the responsibility and the task in the middle. This time it was Bradeanu who had the shooting opportunities and scored 11 goals.

We were criticised before that we are a one-man show, namely that the team depends a lot on Görbicz. Now the girls also play for Anita and we proved that they can help each-other out whenever needed even against such a high-class team.

Eurohandball.com: However, the qualification is not yet decided…

Csaba Konkoly: We know that it will be decided in two matches. We will prepare as if we would have lost the first game by two goals and we try not to think of the advantage.

I know that Zvezda will commit everything to win and the two goals can be given away within minutes.

Eurohandball.com: What do you expect from the second leg – apart from reaching the final?

Csaba Konkoly: I really count on our supporters who already proved that they can create a wonderful atmosphere and exercise big pressure. We have to make use of this advantage with full concentration, good tactics and we also have to avoid the mistakes we made last weekend.