Ruesga out for Veszprém’s FINAL4 challenge

Just two days after members of the MKB-MVM Veszprém KC squad told ehfcl.com how happy they were to avoid a long inactive period before the heyday of the VELUX EHF Champions League action due to the Hungarian finals, the team suffered a huge blow by losing Carlos Ruesga, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament and is set for a long period on the sidelines.

Spain took on Germany in EHF EURO 2016 Qualification last week, which proved to be disastrous for MKB-MVM Veszprém. Ruesga fell to the ground in the 27th minute but the injury seemed minor at first. However, a thorough examination unveiled that the world champion playmaker tore his anterior cruciate ligament and is set to miss a number of months.

Ruesga is currently undergoing further tests to determine whether an operation is unavoidable or could be spared. The time has come for Máté Lékai, who has been struggling to make his way to the lineup, to step up and play as well as he did when he got the chance to shine.

Improved schedule for Veszprém

Two days before the unfortunate injury, coach Ortega spoke happily about this year’s playing dates. ”Last year we had more than two weeks before the last match of the Hungarian championship finals and the FINAL4, which did not serve our preparation, but this year it will be different.”

”We tried everything to keep up the level of concentration and fighting spirit but when a schedule is loaded with important games and then suddenly you have two weeks only for training those levels inevitably drop,” explained Ortega.

Veszprém, who already won the Hungarian Cup against Szeged, will face fellow VELUX EHF Champions League quarter-finalist in the championship finals and even if the holders finish the series with a sweep they will have sufficient time to focus their preparations on Cologne, but not enough to lose form.

”There’s another FINAL4 for us to attend but needless to say it is a much more relaxing duty to sit back and watch attractive ladies fight for the Women’s EHF Champions League trophy than locking horns with the best of men,” joked right wing Péter Gulyás ahead of the MVM EHF FINAL4 on 9/10 May.