Gislason: A matter of heads, legs and oxygen

2002 with SC Magdeburg, 2010 and 2012 with THW Kiel – Alfred Gislason has had immense success as a coach in the EHF Champions League and on 1 and 2 June he hopes for a fourth triumph.

In this interview with ehfCL.com, the Icelander speaks about the four best teams in Europe and praises the whole event in Cologne.

ehfCL.com: You have won the EHF Champions League three times by now, including twice at the VELUX EHF FINAL4. What are your favourite memories of those tournaments?

Alfred Gislason: The whole event is unique, improving constantly and a little bit different every year.

Cologne is simply sensational, for me the biggest of all handball events. It is a full weekend with world class players and 20,000 spectators and entertainment – even better than the Olympic Games or World Championship. Therefore it is so desirable to book a ticket for the tournament and it is a big reward for all players for an enduring season.

ehfCL.com: Is there any advantage for THW being the defending champions?

Alfred Gislason: A large number of our spectators will support us in the LANXESS arena and we have the experience to know how to win a trophy. However, every team is full of experience, so this is no advantage for us.

ehfCL.com: When did you start your personal preparation for the VELUX EHF FINAL4?

Alfred Gislason: When all participants were confirmed. I have to prepare not only on our semi-final opponent Hamburg, but on all three teams, to be ready for all contingencies and to know our tactics.

ehfCL.com: What is opinion about your first opponent Hamburg?

Alfred Gislason: Both teams know well and on neutral ground everything is possible. There is no favourite in this duel. I believe that this match – like both during the German league season – will be very close. Hamburg can crown a normal season with a huge success in only 120 minutes; they can transform a regular year in a superb one in two matches.

ehfCL.com: Does it make your job easier that you can count on a team full of leaders?

Alfred Gislason: All players fight for one common goal - to win titles. Every player has his role in our team. We have extra-ordinary players in our squad, but everybody is taking responsibility. Maybe it is an advantage to have those strong characters in our team.

ehfCL.com: THW have a reputation of deciding crucial matches with incredible comebacks. Is this success down to the players’ heads or hands?

Alfred Gislason: The head cannot work anymore, if the legs and the heart do not deliver enough oxygen. In my opinion it is all a matter of preparation. To turn a match like our first quarter-final against Veszprém around, everyone must be 100% fit.

ehfCL.com: When there is no way forward, do the individual actions from your world class players help to win?

Alfred Gislason: I have a different opinion, as those actions are not individual actions. If, for example, Daniel Narcisse has five metres free space to score, everything was prepared for exactly this moment. So only media call those shots individual actions, for me it is anything but coincidence.

ehfCL.com: After becoming German champions and cup winners already, THW have the great chance to defend their title at Cologne. Are you confident that your team will reach this objective?

Alfred Gislason: First of all, it is an incredible situation that we had and have the chance to defend all three titles. Everybody knew that a season like we had in 2011/12 would not happen again, winning 34 of 34 Bundesliga matches.

So I am really proud that we have already won two domestic titles and have the chance to defend the Champions League trophy still. But as with the other three teams, our chances at Cologne are exactly 25 per cent, if we win the semi-final it increases to 50 per cent.