10.05.2010, 02:51
"A bit up and down"

Viborg goalkeeper Haraldsen demands more of herself.

"A bit up and down"

This season contained a lot of success for Katrine Lunde Haraldsen, goalkeeper in the Norwegian national team. Haraldsen, who is leaving for Hungarian Györ after this season, is among the players who are nominated for the honour of becoming the worlds best female handball player.

For the second year in a row has she reached the EHF Champions League final with Danish Viborg HK. With impressive 21 saves in the first leg against Oltchim Valcea, she played a great part in Viborg’s 28-21 win at home. Still, she is not completely content: "A bit up and down," the 30 year old characterised her own performance.

eurohandball.com: What do you see as the reasons for your clear victory in the first match?

Katrine Lunde Haraldsen: We got our defence working, and we did not allow them to practice their usual fast play. Furthermore, as the match progressed, we also got our own attacking play to function.

eurohandball.com: You won by seven, and were even leading by ten with five minutes left. How does that make you feel?

Katrine Lunde Haraldsen: I think it is a bit bad that we did not manage to maintain the ten goal lead. It was probably a matter of concentration on our side in the last minutes.

eurohandball.com: What do you think of your own performance?

Katrine Lunde Haraldsen: A bit up and down. I agree that I had some good saves, but I do not really think that I had as many one hundred per cent saves, as I could have had.

eurohandball.com: It has been a fact for a long time that this is your last season in Viborg. Does this fact make it even more important to you to finish in style?

Katrine Lunde Haraldsen: It is always important for me to do well, so that has nothing to do with the fact that I am leaving.

eurohandball.com: How do you see the chances in the return match then?

Katrine Lunde Haraldsen: I think they are good, especially if we can get our defence to work as well again – but Valcea definitely still have a chance.

TEXT: Peter Bruun