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03.03.2011, 03:34 The experienced Rhein-Neckar Löwen goalkeeper Henning Fritz believes in reaching the VELUX EHF FINAL4. |
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Fritz: "Successful in the Group of Death"Quality between the posts is guaranteed, as Rhein-Neckar Löwen are the only club of the VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League with two former World Handball Players of the Year in goal: the Polish Sławomir Szmal (awarded in 2009) and the German Henning Fritz (2004). The duo is a key factor for their success in the last years, but it will be split after this season. While Fritz recently extended his contract until 2012, Szmal will return to his home country to play for Vive Targi Kielce. Over the next weeks Fritz will keep the Löwen goal clean on his own. His Polish counterpart Szmal is suffering from a knee injury and misses the next games. Fritz talks to ehfCL.com about his future plans and about his club’s chances in this VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League season.
Henning Fritz: My family and me have a good life in the Baden region. I like the club and I still have big plans to win a title with Rhein-Neckar Löwen – as I still haven’t won a trophy with this club. I believe that we have a strong team and want to be part of this big team. ehfCL.com: On Saturday you will play in Chambery and still have chances to finish as number one in your group. How do you rate the chances to leapfrog your former club THW Kiel? Henning Fritz: Winning the group would be a nice bonus, but frankly I do not really believe that we will achieve that position. First we would have to win against Chambery who are particularly strong on home ground. Furthermore I do not believe that Kiel will give first place out of their hands. ehfCL.com: Is finishing second in this group already a success? Henning Fritz: Yes, of course, as we had to play in a real “Group of Death” with only extremely tough opponents. Second place is a great success, a result we would not have dared to dream of after the draw. ehfCL.com: Do you believe that finishing second will bring some advantages for Löwen? Henning Fritz: We have to wait and see what the draw will bring. When you look at the teams ranked third – our potential opponents in the Last 16 – you will find great names and great teams. We have hope for luck in order to avoid a heavyweight in the first knock-out stage. I personally wish that we will not face another German team, as the VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League is an international and not a national competition. ehfCL.com: You started with a surprise away victory in Barcelona, after that you lost some points. What could be improved at your team? Henning Fritz: We lack stability. If we would play on a more constant level, we would have more points both in the German Bundesliga and in the VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League. We must show a top performance in more matches. Then everything would be possible, but right now we lose control too often. ehfCL.com: In case Löwen would find their stability – is your team a candidate for the VELUX EHF FINAL4? Henning Fritz: Yes, I think so. We have already proved that we can beat big teams, for instance against Barcelona or Kiel, who were last season’s finalists. ehfCL.com: Currently you present a one man show in the Löwen goal as Sławomir Szmal is injured. Is that an advantage or a disadvantage for you? Henning Fritz: For every team it is always good to have two top goalkeepers. When one had a bad day, the other one could save the match. So we decided to sign Markus Rominger as a temporary replacement until “Kasa” will return. And I believe that we did a good job in the last matches. But for the final stage of the season, especially in the VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League, I hope to have Szmal back at my side in order to have doubled power.
TEXT: Björn Pazen |
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ehfCL.com: You recently extended your contract until 2012 – what was the reason?