EHF Cup champions ready to step up to Europe's top table

At the start of last season MOL-Pick Szeged were in despair after failing to qualify for the VELUX EHF Champions League with a defeat to Metalurg.

However, this defeat opened the gates for the biggest international success for the Hungarian runners-up. Szeged went on to win the EHF Cup finals in style by accounting for host Füchse Berlin in the semi-final and favourites Montpellier in the final.

In domestic competition, their domestic rivals Veszprem were too strong once again but finishing second was enough to be granted a direct spot in the group phase this season.

In his second season as coach, Juan Carlos Pastor, who led Spain to its first world championship title in 2005, bolstered his squad with more Spaniards, as goalkeeper Jose Manuel Sierra and playmaker Antonio Garcia arrived from PSG.

Sierra has been given some huge shoes to fill, after influential goalkeeper Roland Mikler left for Veszprem.

Slovenian international Dean Bombac and Serbian international Rajko Prodanovic also joined to leave the squad looking fit for action in Europe’s top flight.

Thanks to his team’s growth in international experience, manager Nándor Szögi is confident of success on at least one front this season.

“We would really like to win one of the Hungarian trophies, but this seems a very difficult task, because playing against Veszprém is always hard. In order to win, we must surprise them.

“Our objective in Europe is always the same: to win the next game. Of course, our first task is to reach the Last 16, preferably after a good group result, which would give us a favourable Last 16 game,” Szögi says, adding: “Our group seems to be very balanced. This team, with Juan Carlos Pastor as the coach, can be a surprise this season.

“In my opinion, Kielce are the favourites of the group, they can even reach the VELUX EHF FINAL4.”

Besides the Polish champions, Szeged will face Dunkerque, Schaffhausen, Aalborg and Zaporozhye in the group phase and team captain Attila Vadkerti believes that his side have a fantastic opportunity to progress from the group.

“Last season we set the bar high both for ourselves and for our fans by winning the EHF Cup. This year, in the Champions League, our first goal is to pass the group phase in a good position, and after that, anything is possible.”

Three questions to coach Juan Carlos Pastor:

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

Juan Carlos Pastor: In our group Kielce are not only the favourite for the top position, but also for making it to the FINAL4. I believe we can compete with the rest of our opponents in our group. On home court, we must give 100% and win all our matches, while away we must get as many points as possible. The final group ranking is going to be decided in away matches.

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

Juan Carlos Pastor: It was our goal to be able to compete in the top European series. We do not only want to participate, but perform well. We must prepare day-by-day, to every game, step-by-step.

Which teams are your personal favourites to reach the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and to win the title this season – and why?

Juan Carlos Pastor: This is only theory: Barcelona, Veszprém, PSG, Kiel, Vardar, Kielce are all favourites, but not all those teams can make it to Cologne. Every year there is a surprise team among the FINAL4 participants – and every team would like to be that surprise.

MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN)

Qualification for the 2014/2015 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Hungarian runners-up

Newcomers: Piotr Wyszomirski (Csurgói KK), José Manuel Sierra (PSG Handball), Antonio García Robledo (PSG Handball), Rajko Prodanovic (MKB-MVM Veszprém/Rhein-Neckar Löwen), Dean Bombac (PAUC Handball)

Left the club: Roland Mikler (MKB-MVM Veszprém), Péter Tatai (Baia Mare), Jonas Larholm (Team Tvis Holstebro), Nikola Prce (Azoty Pulawy), Marko Lasica (destination unknown), Marinko Kekezovic (Targu-Jiu), József Czina (destination unknown)

Coach: Juan Carlos Pastor (since 2013)

VELUX EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2014/2015 season): 13
Quarter-finalist (2): 1996/1997, 2003/2004
Last 16 (5): 2004/2005, 2005/2006, 2006/2007, 2010/2011, 2012/13
Main Round (1): 2007/2008
Group Phase (3): 2008/2009, 2009/2010, 2011/2012
Qualification (1): 2013/14

Other EC records:

EHF Cup
Winner: 2014
Quarter-finalist: 2000/01
Last 16: 1994/95, 1999/2000

EHF Cup Winners’ Cup
Semi-finalist: 1993/94
Quarter-finalist: 2002/03, 2008/09

Hungarian league champions: 1996, 2007, runners-up: 1985, 1994, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Hungarian cup winners: 1977, 1982, 1983, 1993, 2006, 2008