13.01.2009, 05:00
"We want more!"

Ikast coach Kenneth Jensen talks about the chances of his team in the main round.

"We want more!"

For the first time in four years, Ikast/Brande EH are qualified for the best eight teams of the EHF Women’s Champions League. The Danes even have a chance to win Group A if Győri ETO cannot beat Zvezda away.

Coach Kenneth Jensen is happy with the achievement of the team so far. It’s no secret, however, they want more…

Eurohandball.com: You started badly in Denmark. Did you expect such a successful CL campaign?

Kenneth Jensen: We realised that we were drawn into the worst possible group, but nevertheless it was our goal all the time to qualify for the main round. I think we continued to improve during the competition.

At first we had the most difficult qualification group with Rulmetul Brasov, but we won it. In the group stage we managed to take points from Győr, the semi-finalists in the past two years. In addition, we made an away draw against the title holder Zvezda. They have a fantastic team.

Eurohandball.com: Going for first place against Kometal or are you already happy with a place in the main round?

Kenneth Jensen: We will definitely go for the first place. We are going to fly to Skopje already on Thursday to have sufficient time to prepare. Right now that match has very high priority for us. However, if Győr win in Russia, the situation will be different.

Eurohandball.com: Knowing seven out of the eight participants in the main round, how do you feel about your chances further in the tournament?

Kenneth Jensen: That will depend on whether we will finish first or second in our group. We can probably not run into many teams stronger than Győr. The difference will be that there will be absolutely no “easy” matches from now on.

Eurohandball.com: Don’t you fear that your players may be happy with the main round and lack motivation after that?

Kenneth Jensen: Absolutely not. Our players are very ambitious and many of them have international top level experience. They will not be satisfied with what we achieved so far. Matches like these are real fun to play, and now that we are sure to play six more matches this season, we will aim for two more. And then for two more…

TEXT: Peter Bruun