Linnell expects hard time in Skopje

Eurohandball.com has talked to Ingemar Linnell, coach of Danish champions KIF Kolding. The former Swedish national coach is looking forward to the season start.

Eurohandball.com: Ademar Leon and Vardar joined your group from the qualifiers. Were you surprised by them?

Ingemar Linnell: I more or less expected it as the home advantage is usually very important at those qualification groups…

Euorhandball.con: So there was nothing that surprised you?

Ingemar Linnell. I know many people had expectations from Lemgo, but I was not surprised that Leon took the first place. Also, there was no surprise in Vardar winning their qualification group either.

Eurohandball.com: Are you stronger then them?

Ingermar Linnell: I think we have a very good chance to defeat both of them at home, while these are going to be two extremely difficult away games. Our first match will be away to Vardar Skopje, and that’s going to be tough. I have been to Macedonia with the Swedish national team and I know what a difficult away ground it is.

In a way, though, I expect our away match against Reale Ademar to be just as tough. However, Reale Ademar may not be as strong as they were once and they are probably just below the absolute top in Spain right now.

Eurohandball.com: You have a former Ademar player in your team, Mateo Garralda. Can he give you information on the Spanish team?

Ingermar Linnell: Actually, we have two former Ademar players as our goalkeeper Ole Erevik also played there. It is possible that they can give info, but then again: we have to know that Ademar have a lot of new players…