Heinevetter: “I am relatively relaxed“

Goalkeepers will be the key to success next weekend at the EHF Cup Finals in Berlin – this was the clear message of the Google+ Expert Hangout on Tuesday. One of them is Silvio Heinevetter, the number 1 of host Füchse Berlin and the German national team.

Four weeks after winning the German Cup, Füchse are aiming for the double trophy in Max-Schmeling-Halle.

In contrast to most of his teammates, Heinevetter (29) has already lifted an international trophy in 2007, when he won the EHF Cup with former club SC Magdeburg. In this exclusive interview with eurohandball.com, “Heine”, who had extended his contract in Berlin until 2018, speaks about the event, his side’s chances, the semi-final with Pick Szeged and  the duels between great goalkeepers.

eurohandball.com: During the Google+ Expert Hangout on the EHF Cup Finals there was a big discussion about whether Silvio Heinevetter or Thierry Omeyer will be the best goalkeeper at the tournament – what is your opinion?

Silvio Heinevetter: Whatever! I want to reach the final and want to win this title, and the rest does not matter. Thierry Omeyer can save brilliantly and get the award for the best goalkeeper of the EHF Cup Finals, if we win the title, I don’t care. I really have no thoughts on Thierry Omeyer, Montpellier or Constanta – the only thing that counts is our semi-final against Pick Szeged.

eurohandball.com: Do you already feel any tension some days prior to the event?

Silvio Heinevetter: I am relatively relaxed, we have our normal training sessions currently, and from Wednesday onwards we start our video preparation on Szeged, then maybe the tension will rise.

eurohandball.com: Will the Max-Schmeling-Halle be shaken to its very foundations?

Silvio Heinevetter: Of course we count on our fans, and we hope for their support. They can play a decisive role, but at first we have to play our best, then both sides – team and fans – will hopefully push each other.

eurohandball.com: Some key players of your team are injured at the moment. How will the squad look on Saturday and Sunday?

Silvio Heinevetter: I hope that some will manage to return. The sky is looking a little bit brighter at the moment, but it is too early to predict exactly which players might be ready.

eurohandball.com: How high a hurdle will Szeged be for Füchse Berlin?

Silvio Heinevetter: In a semi-final you never face easy opponents, so I didn’t care about which opponent we would face in this match. Szeged has a really strong team, which was strengthened by international top class players this season. We have respect for them and definitely will not underestimate them with players like Larholm, Mikler, Ancsin, Källman and so on.

eurohandball.com: In contrast to Füchse, who became German Cup winner, Szeged missed the title in the Hungarian championship against Veszprem. Is this a psychological advantage for your team?

Silvio Heinevetter: I don’t care about the results of the Hungarian league. I know that we can expect a tough and close match, regardless of whether they are champions or runners-up.

eurohandball.com: Your coach Dagur Sigurdsson said to eurohandball.com that you are now used to the sweet taste of success. Does the Cup trophy boost you?

Silvio Heinevetter: To win this title – the first in our club’s history – extremely boosted our confidence, we believe in ourselves and we believe that we can make it to the final.

eurohandball.com: After a long and highly successful career your team captain Iker Romero will have his last international matches at the EHF Cup Finals. Is there a special motivation for Füchse to award him with a “farewell title”?

Silvio Heinevetter: I don’t think that Iker cares about this fact, nor do I. We want to show a strong performance, and of course we want to say farewell to him in style. He was one of the most recognisable faces of our team, but in the end, no single player counts, but the team.