11.10.2007, 02:34
Forsberg on Viborg: Fun to Play here

Eurohandball.com talks to goalkeeper Thomas Forsberg who was the hero of the first Viborg victory in the Champions League.

Forsberg on Viborg: Fun to Play here 

One of the ten new players of the Danish Champions League debutants, Viborg HK, is a Swedish goalkeeper, Thomas Forsberg. Since his joining Viborg from another Danish club, Bjerringbro/Silkeborg before this season, the 27-year old Forsberg has been sharing the time in the Viborg goal with Norwegian keeper Emil Jungmann.

The Danes won their first Champions League game ever last Saturday. Viborg won against the Ukrainian champions ZTR Zaporoshye last Saturday and Thomas Forsberg played an important role in the home team’s 29-23 win. The goalkeeper played all 60 minutes and performed 21 saves.

This match was some kind of break-though for him in his new club. Ehfchl.com talked to the 195 cm tall keeper who has also played two internationals for Sweden.

Eurohandball.com: You had no less than 21 saves in the match against Zaporozhye. What was the reason for this extraordinary performance?

Thomas Forsberg: I’m not really sure. Or defence was good and I probably had a good day. I don’t really know.

Eurohandball.com: In order to do well, a goalkeeper usually has to know the opponents well in advance. Before the Zaporozhye match, however, your coach Søren Hildebrand told me that you could not watch videos on the Ukrainians. So how did you manage to get them under control so fast?

Thomas Forsberg: Actually, I was a bit nervous before the match, because I did not know much about their players in advance. But sometimes you are lucky and get adjusted to the opponents quite soon. I suppose that this happened.

Eurohandball.com: The Zaporozhye match brought your team the first two points in the group stage. How do you see your chances for the rest of the tournament?

Thomas Forsberg: I think we will have to take one match at a time, but we should at least take the third place in the group and advance to the Cup Winners’ Cup. Maybe we can even take the second position – we will have to see.

Eurohandball.com: Like many others, you are new in Viborg this season. What was it like for you to move from one Danish club, Bjerringbro/Silkeborg, to another?

Thomas Forsberg: Viborg is an extremely big club. I never played in such a big club before. Furthermore, everything is done very professionally and in general I think it is fun to play here. I hope that everything will get settled soon.

Eurohandball.com: Everything settled? Do you mean that there are ten new players who need time to get used to each other?

Thomas Forsberg: Yes, that is exactly what I talk about!

TEXT: Peter Bruun