Champions ready to go again

It was the most thrilling final since the implementation of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2010, the first one to be decided after extra-time – and when HSV Hamburg stood on the podium a fairytale story was complete after beating THW Kiel and FC Barcelona in Cologne within only 24 hours.

But as Hamburg missed out on direct qualification for the Group Phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League, they needed to get back into top gear as early as the wild card qualification.

In the all-German duel Füchse Berlin were in lead for nearly 90 percent of the 120 minutes playing time in the tie, but after a draw at Berlin, Hamburg managed to win by a one goal margin on home court to proceed to the competition proper for the seventh straight time – and five of six previous times they have at least reached the quarter-finals.

However, the Hamburg squad has undergone major changes: six players, including top guns Igor Vori, Michael Kraus or Marcin Lijewski, left, while nine newcomers arrived.

Among them is Spanish world champion Joan Cañellas, who was supposed to be added to the squad in 2014, but after the financial breakdown at Atlético Madrid the playmaker arrived one year earlier.

And as the full right back section has left (including Oscar Carlen, who ended his career after unending cruciate ligament problems), HSV signed two newcomers: Zarko Markovic and Adrian Pfahl.

Additionally Hamburg give the chance to promising talents like Kentin Mahe and Petar Djordjic – but also signed a highly experienced defence ace, the Croatian Olympic and world champion Davor Dominikovic.

“We are very pleased to be part of the group phase again and we are expecting a highly interesting group. As usual Flensburg is one of our opponents, but in this year they have to take the favourite role,” says club director Christoph Wendt, who dreams of Cologne again.

“It is a long, steep and tough way to the final destination of the Champions League and you need to show 100 per cent on the right days to raise the trophy.

“To play the Champions League has an extremely high significance for us,” adds Wendt, who’s clear favourite for winning the title are FC Barcelona, while “Veszprem, Paris, Kiel, Flensburg and Rhein Neckar Löwen have chances to go all the way.”

Team captain Pascal Hens believes that Barcelona have the best chance to succeed them as champions.

“By signing Kiril Lazarov and Nikola Karabatic they have boosted their already brilliant squad,” Hens says, but he also hopes that entering the Group Phase via the qualification like in the 2012/13 season might be a good omen.

“We are not the top favourite, but as the defending champions you should have have enough confidence to say that reaching Cologne again is one of our goals,” admits Hens.

Regarding the Group Phase opponents Aalborg, Halmstad, Velenje, Flensburg and La Rioja Hens is happy that “we do not to travel that far in contrast to previous seasons, when we mostly had to go eastwards, but all our opponents are deserved participants, so we have to be aware.

“Our clear first objective must be the qualification for the Last 16 from the best possible position,” concludes the 33-year-old, who is set for his seventh consecutive season in the competition.

Three questions to the coach

What are your expectations for the upcoming season of the VELUX EHF Champions League - concerning your objectives and your group opponents?

Martin Schwalb: After our brilliant finish of the previous season we’re still living those great emotions and memories from Cologne. And after clinching the berth for the group phase after two extremely hard duels with Berlin with our newly built team, we are very satisfied and eager to restart.

Of course we all dream of making it to Cologne again. Unfortunately we meet Flensburg again, a club, we had faced seven times in the previous season. Additionally we have duels in countries, where handball has a long and successful tradition like Sweden, Denmark or Slovenia and there, the atmosphere will be brilliant.

What does the participation in the VELUX EHF Champions League mean to you and your club?

Martin Schwalb: Once you are champions you want to be part of it again and again. The significance of playing the Champions League is ultimately high in Hamburg, as it is the most important international competition in handball. Only the top clubs make it to the group phase – which guarantees brilliant matches for our fans.

What teams are your personal favourites to reach the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and for winning the title this season – and why?

Martin Schwalb: FC Barcelona have clearly strengthened their squad after losing the final against us, but also teams like Veszprém, Kielce, Kiel and Paris are top candidates for Cologne. In total, approximately eight teams can go all the way.



HSV Hamburg (GER)

Qualification for the 2013/2014 VELUX EHF Champions League season: winner of the wild card matches against Füchse Berlin, fifth ranked in Germany

Newcomers: Marcus Cleverly (Lugi HF), Joan Cañellas Reixach (BM Atlético Madrid), Petar Djordjic (SG Flensburg-Handewitt), Davor Dominikovic (US Ivry), Adrian Pfahl (VfL Gummersbach), Kentin Mahé (VfL Gummersbach), Henrik Toft Hansen (Bjerringbro-Silkeborg), Kevin Herbst (eigene Jugend), Zarko Markovic (Grisch Auf Göppingen)

Left the club: Igor Vori (Paris Saint-Germain HB), Marcin Lijewski (Wisla Plock), Fredrik Petersen (Füchse Berlin), Michael Kraus (Frisch Auf! Göppingen), Stefan Terzic (RK Vardar Skopje), Dan Beutler (IFK Kristianstad), Oscar Carlen (end of career)

Coach: Martin Schwalb since 2005  (excluding the time between June 2011 and December 2011, when Per Carlén was coach)

VELUX EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2013/2014 season): 7
Winner (1): 2012/2013
Semi Final (3): 2007/2008, 2008/2009, 2010/2011
Quarterfinal (1): 2009/2010
Last 16 (1): 2011/2012

Other EC records:
Cup Winners Cup:
Winner 2006/2007

German champion: 2011
German Cup winner: 2006, 2010
German Super-Cup winner: 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010