14.09.2007, 01:54
Eli Lopez: CL would be a dream come true

Spanish top player and Sagunto goalkeeper, Eli Lopez, talks to Eurohandball.com about her expectations for the new CL season.

Eli Lopez: CL would be a dream come true

Elizabeth López Valledor, Eli, a quiet, modest and hardworking girl is one of the players who make people passionate about handball and the game attractive to watch. Five Spanish championship titles, four Spanish Super Cups, three Spanish Cups, four Spanish league Cups, a European Super Cup, a Cup Winners’ Cup title and two CL finals mark the sports career of this exceptional player.

And that's not all. At the age of 33, she keeps improving. At the beginning of this season she was the key player in victory of Sagunto in the Spanish ABF Cup. She was chosen best goalkeeper of the tournament.

Eurohandball.com: Which was the best and the worst moment in your handball career?

Elizabeth López Valledor: The best moment in my handball career was the Spanish national team qualifying for the Athens Olympic Games back in 2003. It was a dream to me since I was a little girl. I always wanted to play at the Olympics and I always believed that it will never happen. When we qualified I needed a whole week to understand that it was not a dream any more.

On the other hand, my worst moment was losing a Spanish Championship title in the last match against Elda. It was long ago, but I remember that it was the toughest moment. I also have to say that the bad moments for me are always those when a team mate who I had lived and worked together with retires or goes to another club. I find those moments very emotional and painful.

Eurohandball.com: This is your 11th season in Valencia. You have tremendous experience and you have seen lots of players and teams in your life. How do you see your current team at this point?

Elizabeth López Valledor: We had a two-year transition period because experienced players retired from the club. We started to work with a new team based on players between the age of 20 and 22. By now they gained some experience and – together with the great new players coming for this season – I believe we have a complete team that includes different types of handballers.

Eurohandball.com: What can you say about Spanish league and CL this season? Who are the favourites?

Elizabeth López Valledor: The Spanish league is improving year by year. My opinion is that there are four or five serious candidates for the title. Above all, I think that the most important matches will be the away ones. Not so long ago it was impossible to lose an away match if you were playing against smaller teams. Today, if you have a bad day you can loose against anybody. My favourites for Spanish championship are Sagunto, Ribarroja, Elda, Itxako and Bera Bera.

The Danish teams are always hard in the Champions League. There are other teams such as Lada Togliatti, Krim, Kometal and others who always get to the final stages and that says a lot about their qualities.

Eurohandball.com: Are there players you would like to call the attention to? Who are the best field player and best goalkeeper in your view?

Elizabeth López Valledor: I’m extremely proud and happy that I played in one team with best field player and the best goalkeeper in the world of all times. They are Natalia Morskova and Svetlana Bogdanova. It was a tremendous experience and great joy to train and to play with them. If I have to choose the best active field player, I really don't know. There are lots of great teams who have really great players. But the best goalkeeper at this point, for me, is without any doubt Cecile Leganger.

Eurohandball.com: This is your 11th season in Valencia. What are your expectations in the Spanish Championship and in your 9th CL season?

Elizabeth López Valledor: Our team always wants to win every competition that we play. I would very much like to win Spanish championship and Spanish Cup “Copa da le Reina” again. The objective in the Champions League is to get as far as possible. To win the CL would be a dream come true.

TEXT: Ivan Ambros