Dujshebaev: "We are not in the best shape"

Ciudad Real are in a very good phase of the season. Right now they are at the top not only in the Champions League but also in the Spanish League. Head coach Talant Dujshebaev has got a first-class squad although he lost some important players last summer.

eurohandball.com met a very satisfied coach after the victory in Pamplona against Portland San Antonio in the ASOBAL.

eurohandball.com: How would you describe Ciudad Real’s current form before the trip to Denmark?

Talant Dujshebaev: We are not in the best shape. Six players stayed at home during the Euro and they could not compete and are now not really in form. And the team-mates who were in Austria are now tired after this hard tournament.

eurohandball.com: A tough situation if you want to win every game.

Talant Dujshebaev: I know that my team is not up at 100% but I am still proud of my players. Every game they perform the best they can. At the beginning of the season our current situation would have been a dream scenario.

eurohandball.com: Did you believe in it?

Talant Dujshebaev: When Barcelona threw us out of the Spanish Supercup in September, it looked different. But now we are the leaders in Spain having won in difficult courts as Barcelona, Valladolid, Leon or Pamplona. We are three points before Barcelona and they’ll have to play in Ciudad Real next week. The pressure is on them.

eurohandball.com: What is the secret of this team?

Talant Dujshebaev: The players. They are the one and only secret. I have a group of very talented players and all things are easier with them. I must repeat that they are not in the best shape at the moment but they always give all they have.

eurohandball.com: And what is your responsibility in this success?

Talant Dujshebaev: Nothing. The players make a team win and the coach is the only responsible if the team looses. We know that this is the reality, the truth.