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Slovenian international hopes for at least a six goal victory with Montpellier against Schaffhausen to reach the Quarterfinals.
In 2009 it was one of the biggest transfers in European handball: Nikola Karabatic and Vid Kavticnik changed teams from THW Kiel to Montpellier MAHB. About 18 months later the Slovenian international has settled in Southern France.
After his club missed the VELUX EHF FINAL4 last season in an extremely close penalty shoot-out against Chekhovskie Medvedi now Kavticnik and Montpellier have to struggle hard to reach the Quarterfinals after their 26:31 defeat in the first Last 16 leg in Schaffhausen.
But the right wing and back court player is confident that his team will go on to the next stage of the VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League.
ehfCL.com: What had happened in Schaffhausen?
Vid Kavticnik: It was our worst match of the whole season! The way we played was really terrible. But we showed our fighting spirit in the final stages of the match. After we had been down by ten goals we struggled to make up the gap to five goals by the end.
ehfCL.com: With the five-goal gap in mind – how do you rate your chances of reaching the Quarterfinals?
Vid Kavticnik: We have to push ourselves to the limit if we want to win with at least six goals.
Schaffhausen is a strong team with extraordinary players, but we showed in our last league match that we can play better – there was a huge improvement compared to the game in Schaffhausen.
But it is a tough challenge to win – and especially to win with six goals.
ehfCL.com: In the first leg William Accambray and Aymen Hammed were missing due to injuries. Will they be fit on Sunday?
Vid Kavticnik: William will have a last test this season. We all hope that he will be on court on Sunday. In the case of Aymen nobody knows currently if he will be fit.
ehfCL.com: Defence or attack – which part of your playing system has to improve most to beat Schaffhausen?
Vid Kavticnik: Everything! In Switzerland we had nothing. All of us were far away from our normal form. We worked hard for six month to be in this position in the competition – but now we are under pressure to manage to go on. We will also count on our fans in the new arena. I trust in their support.
ehfCL.com: Despite the current situation – what about your dream of reaching the VELUX EHF FINAL4?
Vid Kavticnik: It is our dream to go to Cologne this year after we had missed the VELUX EHF FINAL4 last season so closely. Some key players had been injured so we lost against Chekhovskie. But this year it is our ambition to reach Cologne – but first we have to “survive” the Last 16.
ehfCL.com: You have been playing in Montpellier for one and a half years – what is different to your former club Kiel?
Vid Kavticnik: A lot of things are different, but I have settled down in Montpellier and like it very much here. We have a good team with a huge number of top players and alternatives. Now we have this big arena I really like to play here.
ehfCL.com: You transferred to Montpellier together with Nikola Karabatic. How important is it for you to play in the same team?
Vid Kavticnik: We are really good friends – on the field and in normal life besides handball. I am really looking forward to be in the same team, we have fun, we are successful. We both have a contract until 2012 – and I could imagine staying longer in Montpellier.
TEXT: Björn Pazen
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