13.09.2007, 11:53
Jorgensen: “More attractive Portland”

Portland San Antonio's Lars Jörgensen talks to Eurohandball.com about the changes in the team.

Jorgensen: “More attractive Portland”

Danish international Lars Jorgensen will meet his former coach again. It was exactly Javier Cabanas who made him a successful player in Spain and now the Dane meets the coach again. No doubt that few people could give a better characterisation of Cabanas than the Danish star of Portland…

Eurohandball.com: Javier Cabanas joined you again after a couple of seasons. Is he still the same coach or did he change in something?

Lars Jorgensen: I don’t know if he has changed. It is sure that Altea was a small club and Portland is among the greatest clubs of Europe. He brought a new way of training and he wants us to run more, make more fast breaks. However, he doesn’t have to change a lot because this team is very good and it doesn’t need a revolution. The group are learning these small things and I hope that it will be work out well for us.

Eurohandball.com: You did not play in attack in the last two seasons. When Cabanas was your coach in Altea, he counted on you in attack as well. It seems that he will in Portland too...

Lars Jorgensen: I know that I’m not on the same level of Ruesga or Kjelling, but I hope to help to the team playing some minutes and giving a rest to Carlos and Kristian. I didn’t play last two seasons in attack and it’s not good for a player. I must finish fast breaks sometimes and I need to “feel the ball”. If you don’t usually play, you don’t have this touch. I think that Portland will play faster and we will see a more attractive Portland this season.

Eurohandball.com: Portland have new coach, while Lozano, Kasper and Rocas left. People say that Portland are not favourites for the titles. Can it be positive for you that there will be less pressure on you?

Lars Jorgensen: There are doubts about the level of the team. This level will be unknown until we play a big match. That will be the moment when the doubts will be gone. It is not a problem is we are the favourites, but we do not know what performance the group will show in the decisive matches. It is too early to compare the team with that from the last season. Matosevic is different from Hvidt, but he is a great goalkeeper. Hernandez is a very good player and Vugrinec is not alone in the right back position this season. We must wait to speak about the team, but I think that we are able to have a good year. I prefer not to speak about titles; we must wait to see what we will do at the important games.

Eurohandball.com: The Champions League will be a great objective again. Which clubs do you think will reach the final rounds?

Lars Jorgensen: I think that the Spanish teams are the favourites for this Champions League. Ciudad Real, Barcelona, Portland… And I must take Kiel in account too. They were a great team last season and they signed very good players, so they improved – if it was possible. We must face two rounds. There are twelve matches for sure. It will be very hard. There is a European Championship in January. Almost all players will play at this tournament and it is very important to be strong after that. The teams that will be in better form after February or March will be the favourites. It is important to begin well, but as important as preventing injuries and keeping fit.

TEXT: Fernando Urra Goñi