Nilsson used to winning as underdog

Andreas Nilsson has particularly nice memories of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and the LANXESS arena in Cologne.

In 2013 the Swedish international won the coveted trophy with HSV Hamburg – to the surprise of all as his club came to Cologne as underdogs.

Now the 24-year-old line player is back at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 with his new club  MKB-MVM Veszprém, and he sees several similarities between his success with Hamburg two years ago and his current team’s chances ahead of the event. 

ehfCL.com: How has your first season in Veszprém been like so far?

Andreas Nilsson: After I had got used to living in Germany, it was a big change to come to Hungary, especially regarding the language and the life style. But I’ve got used to it now, and I’ve felt very well in the team from the start. Handball is very big here, that helped a lot getting integrated.

ehfCL.com: What does it mean to you playing the VELUX EHF FINAL4 again?

Andreas Nilsson: It is very important for the club, and for me it’s going to be great to be back. I have great memories from the last time I was there with Hamburg, so I am obviously looking very much forward to it.

ehfCL.com: Does it make it extra special for you that you won the VELUX EHF FINAL4 with Hamburg last time you were in Cologne?

Andreas Nilsson: Yes, of course it does. It was so big to win the tournament two years ago. And of course I am dreaming of repeating that triumph with Veszprém this year.

ehfCL.com: You are going to play against THW Kiel in the semi-final. As a former Hamburg player, is it still a special experience to play against Kiel, with whom you had some great battles in the Bundesliga?

Andreas Nilsson: It sure is. To me, it will always be special to play against Kiel. They have been German champions so many times in the last years. And knowing many of their players - my Swedish colleagues in particular - makes it extra special to me. I am really looking forward to that match.

ehfCL.com: How do you see the chances to win against them?

Andreas Nilsson: There is no doubt that Kiel are the favourites. If you look at their squad one by one, they have an extremely strong team.

Some may say that they are weakened because some of their key players are injured. But we have to bear in mind that - for instance - Andreas Palicka is back from injury and will be fresh for the FINAL4, and Henrik Lundström still seems to be strong on the left wing. We have to say that Kiel are the favourites.
 
ehfCL.com: Do you think it’s possible to go all the way with Veszprém this time?

Andreas Nilsson: The chance is definitely there. At the VELUX EHF FINAL4 the team who has the best form of the day in both matches will take the trophy in the end - and that’s not always the strongest team on paper. We saw that in 2013, when I won with Hamburg, and we saw it again when Flensburg took the trophy last year.

Both teams were underdogs but they won in the end. I definitely see us with the chance to copy their triumphs.

I've been in the situation before, and I know we can do it.