Injury break came as a blessing

Christina Varzaru, reigning Women’s Champions League winners Viborg HK’s right winger, really seems to be back in top form after her long injury break. After the World championship in China last month the 30 year old Romanian international again felt pain in her knee. For a while she feared another break, but her fear turned out to be unnecessary. Lately she has been among the best in the Viborg team, where she has played since the summer of 2005. Eurohandball.com met the fast winger for a talk.

Eurohandball.com: Would you say that you are really back in top form after your long injury break?

Christina Varzaru: You might say that I am, but then again it is pretty easy to play in the Viborg team at the moment. Katrine Lunde Haraldsen is doing really well in the goal, and her many saves and fine passes give a lot of fast-break opportunities which wingers like myself benefit from a lot.

Eurohandball.com: Did you ever fear that you might not get back to top from after your injury?

Christina Varzaru: No, not really, actually my injury break came as a blessing in a way. Don’t get me wrong, of course I was not happy to be injured. But the break gave me time to think and reflect about handball, and for great parts of the break I had the opportunity to “play” with the ball. That probably led to that my technique is even better now than before I got injured.

Eurohandball.com: Now you and your team-mates have won your Champions League group, even before the last match day. How do you see your chances onwards in the tournament?

Christina Varzaru: For us it is extremely important that we have already qualified for the main round. Even more important is having qualified from first place, as we now will meet two “number twos” from the other groups. So I can really be very optimistic about our chances in the main round.

Eurohandball.com: Now that all the injured players are fit again, how far can the team go this season?

Christina Varzaru: As you said, we have got all the injured players back; we only miss the two pregnant players now. I really believe we can get as far was we did last year and at least reach the final, both in the Danish championship as well as in the Champions League.