21.03.2011, 09:58
Navarro: "Opponents not important now"

Itxako’s goalkeeper Silvia Navarro is looking forward to recharging the batteries before facing Győr in the semis.

Navarro: "Opponents not important now"

Silvia Navarro experienced a strange mix of feelings in Podgorica. Despite happiness over her 32nd birthday she was also disappointed over the defeat against Budućnost.

This means that old rivals of Itxako Reyno de Navarra, the Hungarian champions Győr Audi ETO, will be their opponents in the EHF Women Champions League semi-finals.

Last season Győr were victorious in both encounters in the Group Matches stage, and also eliminated Itxako in the Last 16 of the 2003/04 EHF Cup.

The Spanish goalkeeper Navarro told ehfCL.com about her feelings after the game in Monetengro right before to climbing onto the plane back to Spain.

www.ehfCL.com: How do you look back on the game in Podgorica?

Silvia Navarro: It was a pity. We were hoping so much that we could remain on top of the group, but we failed. That was not our best day, and we did not show our best performance to beat Budućnost.

www.ehfCL.com: What was your main problem area?

Silvia Navarro: Budućnost defended very well and very hard. Therefore we were not able to play our best handball. They stopped us effectively and did not leave us any options to break through and score easy goals.

www.ehfCL.com: What is your opinion about your semi-final opponents Győr?

Silvia Navarro: We are satisfied for having qualified for the next stage, that is incredible for us. The opponents are not so important right now. But we are all aware that Győr Audi ETO is a great team, of course.

www.ehfCL.com: How important is it that the second leg will be played in Hungary?

Silvia Navarro: Obviously that is not a good circumstance for us. Playing an EHF Women’s Champions League semi-final is always a very difficult task, and this constellation will make it even more complicated. However, we feel very well because we made a great job to get so far, to get to this round.

www.ehfCL.com: What challenge will Itxako Reyno de Navarra have to focus on right now?

Silvia Navarro: We have a week to rest, and that will really be necessary for us. We are in a very important moment of the season and we need to recover from all the hard games that we recently played in domestic competitions and in the EHF Champions League. We need to be back to 100 percent before we face the decisive matches over the next weeks.

TEXT: Fernando Urra Goñi