Jurecki: "Sometimes it is good to be brought down to earth"

Michal Jurecki scored 10 goals in the duel of KS Vive Tauron Kielce against HC Meshkov Brest (32:28) last Saturday and was nominated to the Best 7 of the VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16's first leg.

Only once he managed to score more. When asked, if he remembers when, Jurecki answered without hesitating: "Atletico Madrid". Exactly, it was on 16 November 2011 in the group phase, but all in all Kielce lost the game 29:37 against BM Atletico Madrid. He was playing against his present coach Talant Dujshebaev and one of his teammates, Mariusz Jurkiewicz, back then and scored eleven goals – one more than last weekend.

During the past years, a lot has changed for Kielce, but the efficiency of the back remains the same. Not only the efficiency, but his approach to work and character as well. What drove him to where he is now? Michal Jurecki reveals to ehfCL.com.  

ehfCL.com: How did you manage to score 10 goals so easily against Brest?

Michal Jurecki: In this particular case I just felt I had a good day and I was able to help my team more than usual. That’s why each time I was using my positions to score and the ball was barging into the goal. But there were also matches, even in this season, where I wasn’t so successful. Hopefully, not the next one.

ehfCL.com: THW Kiel showed recently that a four goal loss is nothing in handball. However, you are not going to play against THW, but Brest and not away, but at home.

Michal Jurecki: Yes, you’re right, but you need to respect each opponent, no matter if it’s Kiel or Brest, Barcelona or Montpellier. Oh, by the way, Montpellier – we had an example last season, away we won against them with four goals in first leg and in Kielce Montpellier was so close in the second one to kicking us out. That situation taught us a lot.

ehfCL.com: You had much more serious blooper this season – the 24:34 loss against HC Vardar. Did it turn out to be useful as well?

Michal Jurecki: That failure was composed of many factors and we drew our conclusions from that. Definitely, the defeats are always helpful, because there is nothing worse than thinking you’re unbeatable. Of course it’s normal that you want to avoid them as long as possible, but from time to time it’s really good to be brought down to earth.

ehfCL.com: How did it happen that you became the new captain of Kielce this season?

Michal Jurecki: Coach Dujshebaev chose me, but this is our internal issue, I wouldn’t like to comment the circumstances widely.

ehfCL.com: Did you introduce any new regime in the team?

Michal Jurecki: No, there is no regime at all (laugh). The rules that were in force still are in force. And me? I always tried to influence the guys in a positive way, no matter if I was captain or not. Sometimes I also have some duties beyond the court, but it’s not a big deal.

ehfCL.com: You have different experiences from different clubs in case of playing different roles. Two opposite cases from Germany and now a third one in Kielce. Which one suits you the most?

Michal Jurecki: In Hamburg I didn’t play any role. Yes, okay, I played the role of a player who was sitting in the stands instead of playing on the court.

So I’m happy I left for Lübbecke quite fast where really soon I became one of the key players. Those two and a half years gave me a lot – it was definitely one of my most important steps.

Here, in Kielce, I’m happy I have the opportunity to play in the Champions League. And not only play – we know how huge goals we have in Kielce. I am glad I can fight for these goals with the Polish team.

ehfCL.com: Without that time in Germany you wouldn’t have been prepared for being an element of such a strong team as Kielce?

Michal Jurecki: Yes, I think that the way I play now is a result of my three years spent in Germany before. I learnt a lot and I think that I wouldn’t have played like this if I hadn’t moved there.

ehfCL.com: They say that if you are the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room. You are definitely a leader of Kielce, one of their highest assets. Is this still a proper room for you then?

Michal Jurecki: I think that an athlete learns through all his career. I try to look for the weak points in my game all the time. I try to be unsatisfied.

Look, in this last game against Brest I scored 10 goals, but I had 13 shots. These three could have been effective, too. There is always something to improve. I don’t want to rest on my laurels, because that would be pernicious for me. Even though I am already an experienced player.