Christiansen: I will return

This was the last Champions League game for a while for Flensburg’s Lars Christiansen. “I still hope that we can finish third or fourth in the Bundesliga,” said Christiansen. “This objective is still possible to reach.”

However, it seems more probable that the Campushalle of Flensburg will host “only” EHF Cup games in the autumn. Flensburg are seventh at the moment in the Bundesliga.

Flensburg are working on the foundations of a new squad. Per Carlén and the team manager, Ljubomir Vranjes have already signed Johan Sjöstrand and Patrik Fahlgren for next season. One of them is a 22-year old goalkeeper and the other is a 23-year old playmaker.

The management would still like to add an experienced player to the roster. Momir Ilic (VfL Gummersbach) received an offer, but Tonci Valcic (RK Zagreb) is also “interesting” for the club.

Per Carlén knows that the budget of the team is limited: “It’s no secret that we are not able to compete with Kiel, Hamburg, Löwen or Lemgo financially.”

Accordingly, a journalist could not keep the following question to himself: “How long is Oscar Carlén going to play for Flensburg if he continues playing as he did against Hamburg?”

Per Carlén, the coach and the father of the player made up his mind and answered: “Why should he leave Flensburg? Flensburg-Handewitt will be the best team of Europe in the future.”

In fact, the game against Hamburg could only reinforce the optimism of the Swede.