Four points before Christmas

Viborg coach Jakob Vestergaard knows that the season has just begun. The two points gained away to Byasen are a good basis but nothing else. He talks to Eurohandball.com before the game against Leipzig.

Eurohandball.com: You won your first match after a rather troublesome start in the Danish league…

Jakob Vestergaard: I must say it was a relief for us. With some of the players missing at the start of the season, I was prepared for some problems. I have to say that the match against Byåsen turned out as I expected. We managed to improve in defence and together with our fast breaks we decided the match.

Eurohandball.com: It was an important away win. How do you see your group now?

Jakob Vestergaard: I still believe it is very open. I think there are four high quality teams. Nevertheless, I think we are on the right track and we have time to improve gradually until Christmas. The decisive phase will come in the New Year. Four points before Christmas should be enough keep our chances in our hands.

Eurohandball.com: You will receive Leipzig on Saturday. What do you expect?

Jakob Vestergaard: We are looking forward to the first CL home game since the Final last season. Leipzig will be different from Byåsen, but I would not go too much into details. I see their strengths and weaknesses, but I don’t want to give them hints on our tactics. I think they also read ehfcl.com…

Eurohandball.com: Many have moderate expectations from Podravka this season as they lost key players during the summer. Do you share this view?

Jakob Vestergaard: No, not really. I think Podravka have done the right thing. They let their most expensive foreign players go while they kept their Croatian talents. For instance, Miranda Tatari is still playing for them.

This decision paid off so far as they defeated Hypo and Buducnost in the Regional League. They definitely also deserve respect. All in all, I think it will be a very close competition for the main round places and we want to be there.