Ševaljević: Minsk can improve

After two defeats and a draw, Dinamo Minsk  finally got their first victory in Group D of the VELUX EHF Champions League in Round 4 when they beat Hungarian outfit Pick Szeged 29:24.

It was the first triumph this season in the competition for the Belarusian team since February 2010, when they beat Danish AaB Handball (33:31). Coincidentally, it was also October when Dinamo defeated Pick Szeged two seasons ago in the group phase of VELUX EHF Champions League (33:29).

With three points from their first four games, Dinamo remain in the race for the Top 16 place. ehfCL.com talked with man of the match, Montenegrin left back Vasko Ševaljević, who scored nine goals against Pick Szeged.

ehfCL.com: What are your impressions of your first victory in this year's VELUX EHF Champions League?
Vasko Ševaljević: Impressions are, of course, positive. We knew that if we wanted to achieve our goal of reaching the Last 16 we must win these kind of games. We were in control from the first whistle to the last. We didn’t want to allow ourselves to repeat the mistakes from the first three games. Our lead changed during the game, but at the end we fully deserved to win.

ehfCL.com: In the first three rounds you have also been close to winning, especially against HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb when you had a 17:11 lead, and against FC Barcelona Intersport where, at one point, Dinamo were leading 20:14. What was missing in these games that stopped you winning?
Vasko Ševaljević: In the first three games we have shown how good we can play, but we had bad periods that cost us a better score than one point. Against Füchse Berlin it was equal until just a few minutes before the end, when we let it slip. I still cannot get over the match with FC Barcelona Intersport. Sometimes it’s easier when you lose by just one goal, but not against FC Barcelona Intersport. We were so close to victory, but we let it slip in the last 10 minutes. The match against Zagreb was a little different. We had a six-goal lead, then we played very badly early in the second half when Zagreb was leading by three, so eventually and the end we had to be satisfied with one point.

ehfCL.com: After four games you have three points in the group. How satisfied are you with that?
Vasko Ševaljević: We cannot be satisfied or not satisfied after everything. We wanted to win in every game we have played. We have six more games after the break. It’s certain that we can do a lot more if we improve certain aspects of our game.

ehfCL.com: With nine goals you were the best scorer of the game against Pick Szeged, and that is your best scoring performance in European club competition. Also, with 23 goals you are so far the top scorer for Dinamo Minsk in the VELUX EHF Champions League. How satisfied are you with your performances and how satisfied is your new club?
Vasko Ševaljević: For now, I can be quite satisfied. But, the number of goals is less important to me. Of course, my job as a back is to score goals, but the team always comes before individual performances. I think the people in the club are also satisfied. But, of course, I am aware that I can do more to improve my game and I feel I am capable of doing it.

ehfCL.com: After two years playing in the Asobal League in Spain with Amaya Sport San Antonio, you moved to Belarus, to play for a team who plays the VELUX EHF Champions league, but are in a weaker domestic league. What are your impressions so far of the club, did you make a right choice?
Vasko Ševaljević: At no time so far have I thought I made the wrong decision. My impressions are great, I have nothing but praise about the club organisation, life in Minsk and everything else. It’s true that the Belarusian league can’t match the Asobal, but the opportunity to play VELUX EHF Champions League is one of the main reasons I came to Minsk. Dinamo has been the champion of Belarus for several years in a row, and to retain the title is one of the main goals. Our main rival is HC Meshkov Brest and after that comes SKA Minsk. They are good teams, but we are better. Although it will not be easy to win the title, I'm sure we will succeed.