Statements after Men´s EHF Cup Round 3 Draw

The fixtures of the Men´s EHF Cup Round 3 have been drawn and here are the statements of some of the participants:

Gaël Pelletier, the President of HBC Nantes (vs. SL Benfica): "The draw could have been worse for us. Benfica are a good team with experienced players, several of them playing for the Portugal´s national team. They are not going to be easy opponents, but I hope we can make it to the Group Phase.“

Frank Carstens, the coach of SC Magdeburg (vs. Vardar PRO Skopje): "After the last season when we played several times against teams from southeastern Europe we are glad we can develop our reputation of Balkan experts even further. I cannot say anything about the playing quality of our opponent, but it will be essential for us to build up a comfortable advantage in the first leg at home.”

Veselin Vujović, the coach of Vardar PRO Skopje (vs. SC Magdeburg): “I wished to avoid teams from Germany. Although I am not giving up in advance, it is a fact that Magdeburg will be a favourite. We could have got even stronger rivals, but Magdeburg will be difficult enough. At least my wish about playing the second match at home has fulfilled.”

Fredi Radojkovič, the coach of Cimos Koper (vs. Porto Vitalis): “The most important fact is that we avoid meeting the strongest teams of this competition at this stage. Porto are a good team and we have to prepare ourselves thoroughly. Our goal is to qualify for the Group Phase and we have a great opportunity for that.”

Guðmundur Guðmundsson, the coach of Rhein-Neckar Löwen (vs. A.C. Diomidis Argous): "We are going to approach this task with a lot of respect. It is nice we will play the second match at home.“  

Ivan Pompoš, the assistant coach of Tatran Prešov (vs. Borac Banja Luka): “We are really happy, because we were drawn against the team we had wished at most. I am not saying this will be easy, but it will be our duty to proceed to the Group Phase.”

Marko Šibila, the coach of Branik Maribor (vs. RK Siscia): "Each team which made it to the last qualifying round is respectable and that applies for Siscia as well. However, we should be satisfied, because we will meet an opponent which can be beaten. We will do our best to achieve our desired goal – the participation in the Group Phase.“

Ghionea Valentin, the player of Orlen Wisła Plock (vs. Sungul Snezhinsk): “We do not know much about our next rival from Russia. The most popular teams from this country are Chekhovskie Medvedi and St. Petersburg HC. I assume, if we show our best handball we should win and play in the Group Phase of the EHF Cup. But it will not be an easy match for us.“

Kasper Hvidt, the goalkeeper of KIF Kolding (vs. Permskie Medvedi): "It will be a long journey. When Moscow is only halfway, this has to be really long..."