25.03.2010, 05:05
“A beer with Bogdan”

HSV player Marcin Lijewski returns to Poland to meet Kielce in the last 16.

“A beer with Bogdan”

For Marcin and Krzysztof Lijewski the first leg of the last 16 will be very special, as the two brothers will return to their home country Poland to meet Kielce with their club HSV Hamburg. Before this match Marcin, the older one, talks to eurohandball.com about the situation and the chances of HSV.

eurohandball.com: How much do you anticipate the match in your home country?

Marcin Lijewski: I’m looking forward to this match in Kielce. It’s always nice to play in your home country.

eurohandball.com: What atmosphere do you expect for your team in the boiling cauldron of Kielce?

Marcin Lijewski: The group phase finished, this is Last 16 now. We all know that the loser of the first leg will have big problems. It will be hard fight for us und we’ll try all we can to win in Kielce.

eurohandball.com: Is it a special motivation to play against Bogdan Wenta, who’s your national coach?

Marcin Lijewski: I don’t mind who’s the coach of Kielce as I play for HSV and only focus on my performance. If we have some time after the match, we will have a beer with Bogdan.

eurohandball.com: How do you rate the development of Polish handball in the last years?

Marcin Lijewski: The fact that a Polish team qualified for the Last 16 demonstartes well what happened in Polish handball. This is a great progress. I think this development will continue in the upcoming years and more clubs will play successfully in the Champions League.

eurohandball.com: Are you the clear favourite?

Marcin Lijewski: I never think about favourites. It will be tough and both teams start from 0:0, but we have our fate in our own hands.

eurohandball.com: Will your last 16 matches be decided in Kielce?

Marcin Lijewski: I don’t know, let’s wait and see!

eurohandball.com: HSV qualified for the CL semis in the last two seasons. How far will Hamburg come this year?

Marcin Lijewski: We all hope to play in Cologne at the FINAL4. We’ll fight hard for this, but you need luck too.

eurohandball.com: Do you already have the FINAL4 on your mind?

Marcin Lijewski: No, I only concentrate on the next task, and this is Kielce.

eurohandball.com: Is it special to play in the same team as your brother?

Marcin Lijewski: I like it very much in Hamburg and the relationship with my brother is very good. So I’m very happy with this situation.

TEXT: Björn Pazen