Larvik coach expects an equal group

Last season, Larvik HK did not manage to go on from the first group stage of the Women´s Champions League. The Norwegian champions could find comfort in reaching the Cup Winners' Cup Final where they lost to Danish FCK Håndbold. They will meet FCK in the CL group again together with Dinamo Volgograd and Buducnost.

Larvik´s head coach and sports director, Karl Erik Bøhn, hopes that they can do better than last season and proceed to the main round. He expects tough competition from the start.

Eurohandball.com: How do you see your team´s chances in the group?

Karl Erik Bøhn: I expect it to become a very equal group, but FCK are favourites to win it. They have a very strong team this season and there is probably no coach in the world who is better at motivating players than Anja Andersen. I have the greatest respect for her. I expect the three other teams to be very equal.

Eurohandball.com: You lost your greatest star, Linn Kristin Riegelhuth. She joined FCK. What did her departure mean for the team?

Karl Erik Bøhn: Well, only a little more than a week ago she was awarded female handball player of the year in the entire world... Any team losing such a player would will feel her absence. However, we have got a couple of very good new players, whom we are very content with, and in general I do not see our team as any weaker than last season.

Eurohandball.com: You mentioned FCK as favourites in your group. Can your team challenge them at all?

Karl Erik Bøhn: At least, I think we can at home – like we did in the first leg of the Cup Winners Cup final last season! In our match against FCK, on October 31st, they will still not have their goalkeeper Cecilie Leganger back from injury, and we always fear her in particular! Anyway, I am sure that that match can fill the new Arena Larvik – and in general it has been fantastic for us to get that new arena this year!

Eurohandball.com: Your first group match is coming up on Saturday in Podgorica...

Karl Erik Bøhn: There is no doubt that Buducnost is the most difficult away court in Europe. The crowd puts an enormous pressure on the visitors and very few away teams win there. The last time we played there, practically everything went against us! Of course, we will fight to win, but it is going to be tough.