Champions’ Draw Special Guest: Filip Jicha

The powerful Czech left back, Filip Jicha, played an extraordinary season with THW Kiel and the Czech Republic.

Jicha qualified for the CL Final with Kiel scoring 99 goals in the Champions League season taking the top scorer title. With the Czech Republic he secured a place at the EURO 2010 in Austria.

He talks to Eurohandball.com before the Champions’ Draw.

Eurohandball.com: What was the season like for you: disappointing or successful?

Filip Jicha: All in all it was a great season for me, but the lost CL Final was very bitter. It was amazing! We wanted the CL title so much, but lost a game and we failed to take the trophy.

Eurohandball.com: Which were the best moments of the season?

Filip Jicha: We played a lot of games against great teams. We met Ciudad Real, Rhein-Neckar Löwen, Barcelona and Hamburg in the Bundesliga. I will remember these matches my whole life. And I’m pleased that I was never injured during this time and I could play the whole season.

Eurohandball.com: A new period will start for Kiel – one without Lövgren and other key players...

Filip Jicha: I played two years together with Lövgren and it was fantastic. He is a great handballer and a very good team mate. I’m happy that I had the chance to play with him.

Kiel signed Ilic and Sprenger for the season to come. I hope that we will be a good team together with them and we will be able to make it to the Final Four. It will be a difficult and long way there.

Eurohandball.com: You will be interested in both draws after you qualified for the EURO with the Czech team. What group do you wish for your team?

Filip Jicha: First of all, we are very happy to have qualified for the EURO. It’s great to play there, but I do not know what I expect right now.

A EURO is always more difficult than a World Championship with 16 teams all high quality. We are happy to go to Austria and I hope to win games there.

Eurohandball.com: Before that you will get some time off from handball. How do you spend this break?

Filip Jicha: I’m in the Czech Republic with my family and I enjoy the time here especially because I can so rarely do it during a season.

We will not travel anywhere this time. My wife is pregnant and she expects a baby in three weeks.

Eurohandball.com: Your first child?

Filip Jicha: Exactly and I’m quite nervous. But I’m very happy at the same time and I only hope that I will be a good father…