Pytlick: Of course I have made an impact, but ...

Many people tend to give Jan Pytlick the credit for the fact that WHC Vardar SCBT are now close to the MVM EHF FINAL4 after being close to an early exit from the Women's EHF Champions League Main Round in February.

“Of course, I have made an impact, and I have had some influence, but we are many people who have made an effort in this,” says Jan Pytlick who has been attached to the Macedonian club as consultant since the middle of February.

It is exactly within that spell of time that Vardar have made the leap from a position at the bottom of their main round group to being able to take the last step into the FINAL4 on Saturday, when they are defending a 24:18 lead away against reigning champions Györi Audi ETO KC.

“I am on the bench and I am part of making the tactics ahead of the games, but we coaches are doing this in common, and my cooperation with head coach Indira Kastratovic is really fine. She does not seem to feel that I have come here to overrule her on in any way put her down.

"I have been received very well by her as well as by all the players,” says 47-year-old Jan Pytlick who was not between jobs for long after being sacked as Danish national coach between Christmas and New Year. In February, Vardar were ready with a job offer.

“Of course, the culture and the mentality is different from what I was used to in Denmark, but that was exactly what I wanted, and I must say that people here are really good at receiving people who come from outside, and that goes for the women's team as well as for the men's team and for everyone in and around the club.

“I have the privilege of working with some extremely skilled players, and furthermore, it is a really great feeling to be working in one of Europe's top clubs in women's as well as men's handball, and everyone is talking to everyone also between the teams. It is a bit like walking through the cafeteria in a Danish handball hall and hearing the talk there,” says Jan Pytlick who has signed a contract for two and a half year with Vardar.

No panic

“This obviously means that I have the time to be part of building something here, and there was definitely no feeling of panic to be traced by the management of the club, as we talked about me joining the club. It was not like if I was being hired to make sure we won the Champions League.

“Of course, we would very much like to reach the FINAL4 this season already, but the goal over time is to build a team who can win the Champions League,” Jan Pytlick tells ehfCL.com.

However, he realises that his team is pretty close to reaching the MVM EHF FINAL4 this season already, being six goals up against Györ ahead of the second leg in Hungary, and even having kept the back-to-back champions on 18 goals in the first leg.

“We are going to Györ to win the second match too. We do not think about the lead we have with us.

“Of course, it will be some kind of security during the match, but our aim is to win, as it is in every match we play, and I think we are good enough to win the match in Györ too,” finds Jan Pytlick.