15.04.2009, 09:59
Vestergaard: It's a game of chess!

The Viborg coach believes that Valcea have reserves for the return game.

Vestergaard: It's a game of chess!

If you win the first leg of a Champions League or European Cup tie at home by six goals, you will usually have a good chance to win on aggregate and qualify for the next round. If you win the first leg away by six goals, the second leg at home would normally be a formality.

However, Jakob Vestergaard, coach of Viborg, refuses to admit that his team are practically in the CL Final, in spite of their impressive 34-28 away win against Oltchim Valcea on Easter Sunday. Eurohandball.com talks to Vestergaard.

Eurohandball.com: How do you explain this easy victory?

Jakob Vestergaard: First of all, we started with a good defence and we managed to complete many fast-breaks one after the other.

Eurohandball.com: Was it an easier game than expected?

Jakob Vestergaard: Obviously, I did not expect to win by so many goals. Valcea is a fantastic place to play, and Oltchim are a fantastic team. However, our defence managed to put great pressure on their backcourt line, so really only their wingers could perform at their usual levels.

Eurohandball.com: Do you agree that the second leg will be a formality?

Jakob Vestergaard: I will never say that it will be a formality. Six goals can be lost within very short time in modern handball. In Romania we had periods of 0-3 or 0-4… Those periods lasted only eight minutes or so, and this just proves how fast things can happen in modern top handball. It may be difficult for us to reach the same high level that we reached in the first match. And you need this level against such strong opponents.

Eurohandball.com: Do you think Valcea have reserves to surprise you?

Jakob Vestergaard: Oh yes, I’m pretty sure. This is really like a game of chess where you have to figure out the next move all the time. They will probably spend the whole week with it and we are doing it too. After all, they also have top substitute players and I’m convinced that they will have a surprise or two for us.

TEXT: Peter Bruun