Hamburg suits me well

It was one of the Bundesliga's biggest transfers of the last few years when Igor Vori transferred from Zagreb to Hamburg before this season. The line player is one of the decisive factors of HSV success, as well in offense as in defence.

The Croatian Olympic and World Champion and several times all-star player at major tournaments talks to eurohandball.com about his impressions of Hamburg and what is still to be expected.

eurohandball.com: You have been in Hamburg for about half a year, are you already settled?

Igor Vori: Yes, for a long time. Hamburg is great, my family and me really feel like home here.

eurohandball.com: Currently HSV is leading the Bundesliga table and is already qualified for the Last 16 in the Champions League. Did you expect this prior to coming to Hamburg?

Igor Vori: We have a very good team which has the potential to win titles in all competitions. But the season is still long. We haven’t reached anything up to now and have to give our best until the end.

eurohandball.com: This weekend HSV play in Alingsås. How hard is it to find motivation under the current circumstances?

Igor Vori: Not hard at all, because we always concentrate on the next match. We know that every match is hard to play. Alingsås aren’t a weak team, therefore it’s not hard to motivate.

eurohandball.com: How do you harmonize with your new team-mates?

Igor Vori: Super, the team suits me very well. My team-mates are great and made me feel the great team spirit right from the beginning. Beside that I was also very warmly welcomed by everybody surrounding the club. So I enjoy playing here since day one.

eurohandball.com: Is the Croatian trio Vori, Duvnjak and Lacković a key factor for HSV’s success?

Igor Vori: We are a team. It doesn’t depend on a single player, but how we play together. We all try to give the maximum in every match. And that we can reach only as a team.

eurohandball.com: In the Champions League a decisive game for second place in Group C might come up against your former club Zagreb. How is this a special match for you?

Igor Vori: I is not special, I have already played once against Zagreb in our first match. The only difference now is the fact that we will play Zagreb in Zagreb.

eurohandball.com: What is more likely, whistles against you or a frenetic reception?

Igor Vori: I don’t expect people whistling against me, as I think I did my best in the last two years I played for Zagreb. And I still have a lot of friends there.

eurohandball.com: Bundesliga, German cup and Champions League – HSV is still in the race in every competition. Which of those titles would be the best for you to win in your first year in Germany?

Igor Vori: If I could choose, I would take the German championship.

eurohandball.com: In the current CL season HSV lost twice against Ciudad Real. What do you think of possibly meeting the reigning CL champion again in the quarter finals?

Igor Vori: We only look from game to game. We played twice against Ciudad Real, but now we have different tasks we have to concentrate on first. Everything else is still too far away to think about.

eurohandball.com: All experts mention HSV as one of the favourites for reaching the FINAL4 in Cologne. Is this your opinion, too?

Igor Vori: When you hear this very often it sounds good. But currently we focus on the last Group Phase matches, and then still we’ll have to stand two very hard opponents in the knock-out stage.