Satisfied Zagreb director

Eurohandball.com talks to director of Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb, Bartol Kaleb. The hard working manager is satisfied with his team’s results in the CL so far and expects even better performances in the future.

Eurohandball.com: Despite problems with injuries, Zagreb Croatia Osiguranje are second in Group H with five points gained from three matches, equal to Lőwen. Are you satisfied with your team’s accomplishment so far?

Bartol Kaleb: We were surprised in the first round by Lőwen. All in all, I am satisfied after first three rounds.

Eurohandball.com: Zagreb still have to play two away matches (Wisla and Lőwen) and one home match (Pick Szeged). What do you expect from these matches?

Bartol Kaleb: We will try to win all three of them. Our form is improving with every day and it increases our self-confidence. We have some difficulties with the injury of Ivano Balic, but we hope that he will be ready to play in the last two matches of Group H. Although you never know with injuries…

Eurohandball.com: With your great experience in handball, what do you think about Zagreb this season?

Bartol Kaleb: I hope we will continue to play well in the main round and make results that take us to the CL semi-finals. Then we will be in the hands of God…

Eurohandball.com: Balic has problems with his back. There were some talks about a possible operation? Is there a chance that he will be ready for the important match in Lőwen?

Bartol Kaleb: The situation with his injury is looking better every day. It is very hard to predict anything. Now it seems that Balic will not be operated, so we hope that he would be ready for the upcoming CL matches.

Eurohandball.com: The condition of Backovic is also improving?

Bartol Kaleb: Backovic has finally recovered from a muscle injury, so he trained normally with the team last week.

Eurohandball.com: The great performance of Lazarov and especially of the young players such as Domagoj Duvnjak, Manuel Strlek and Zlatko Horvat must be who a great sign for the future. What is positive about Zagreb this season respect to previous seasons?

Bartol Kaleb: It’s not good to talk just about few of our players, because the main strength is our team spirit. Every good result is made buy all 14 players nominated. And the most important in comparison to past seasons is that our game is much faster, our efficiency increased and our defence is solid and stable.

In short, Zagreb will continue playing modern handball in defence as well as in offence and it will bring results for sure. To achieve good results it will be very important to finally have fewer injuries.