27.02.2007, 10:50
Not New to Each Other

Aalborg meet Hypo in Champions League, just as it happened last season. Jan Leslie talked to Eurohandball.com and told why it will be a special match for him.

Not New to Each Other

One of the quarterfinal ties in the Women’s Champions League will be a repetition from last year, as Aalborg DH and Hypo Niederösterreich meet again. In addition, Aalborg will play the first leg at home again.

Last year, Aalborg did not play their home match on their usual home ground, as the Gigantium Arena of Aalborg was occupied. It meant that Aalborg had to move their home match 62 kms north to Frederikshavn. Hypo Niederösterreich won there by one goal, but Aalborg managed to win the second leg away and secure an aggregate victory to proceed to the semi-finals.

Hypo favourites again

"I see Hypo as favourites again. They have a very strong team this year and they play good handball. Furthermore, it is a great advantage to play the second leg at home, but I don’t rule our chances to repeat last year’s success," Aalborg coach Jan Leslie told eurohandball.com.

"There is no doubt, however, that we will have to stay focused during the entire 60 minutes at both matches in order to stand a chance. We cannot afford to take things easy for even 10 minutes, as we did at some of the group matches," Leslie added

Special meeting for the coaches

The quarterfinal tie will be special for Jan Leslie and his counterpart, Hypo Niederösterreich coach Ryan Zinglersen as well. The two coaches will become colleagues from next season, when Ryan Zinglersen takes over as head coach in Skjern Haandbold in the Danish men’s league. And his assistant coach will be Leslie…

"There is no doubt that this will make it even more fun for both of us to play those two matches. Both of us will be determined to defeat the other - but we will remain the best friends afterwards. There is absolutely no doubt that Ryan and I are really looking forward to these quarterfinal matches," Jan Leslie said.

TEXT: Peter Bruun