Hard work secured the ticket
Through a 53-48 aggregate win against Norwegian champions Larvik HK, Viborg are in the Women’s EHF Champions League final for the fifth time in history. The two of the Danes’ four previous final ties have been won. This includes last year’s triumph against the Hungarian champions Györ, which makes Viborg ruling Champions League winners.
This year Viborg’s opponents in the finals will be Romanian champions Oltchim Vâlcea, whom the Danes also met in the Main Round.
Eurohandball.com talked to Viborg´s head coach Jakob Vestergaard about the road to the final and the upcoming final matches.
eurohandball.com: Due to what did your team became triumphant in the semi-final tie against Larvik?
Jakob Vestergaard: After having founded the win in the first leg, we got an extremely good start in the return match, where our defence played extremely well in the first half. So did Katrine Lunde Haraldsen in our goal, while our fast-breaks and our runs back into the defence also worked very well.
eurohandball.com: Are you somehow annoyed that you did not manage to win the match in Larvik despite having a clear lead most of the game?
Jakob Vestergaard: Not at all! We are in the final, so I could not care less about that defeat. Of course, it would have been great to be the first away team ever to win in the new Arena Larvik, but the major issue is the fact that our final was never in danger – that is what matters.
eurohandball.com: Looking back at this Champions League season, your team has been troubled a lot by injuries and pregnancies. What do you see as the reason, that you still made it to the final once again?
Jakob Vestergaard: Mainly hard work. Everyone has been working hard and dedicated towards what we have achieved today.
eurohandball.com: Other clubs all over Europe are probably working hard too. Do you see other reasons for your triumph?
Jakob Vestergaard: Of course, we have a certain "winning culture", and the self confidence we got from last year’s Champions League campaign has played a part. We have been here before, so we know what it is like. Furthermore, we are benefitting from having our injured players back at the right time.
eurohandball.com: You defeated your coming opponents in the final, Oltchim Valcea by seven goals in your latest match against them about a month ago. Would you say that this gives you the mental upper hand against the Romanians?
Jakob Vestergaard. No, not really. In that match, where Vâlcea were sure to win the Main Round group, they spared a few of their key players, and that will probably mean that they will not feel psychologically inferior next time. Anyway, I expect two absolutely equal finals.
TEXT:
Peter Bruun