02.05.2012, 08:29
VELUX EHF FINAL4 2012 Draw: Reactions

ehfCL.com speaks to all four clubs about the draw for the VELUX EHF Champions League semi-finals at the VELUX EHF FINAL4.

VELUX EHF FINAL4 2012 Draw: Reactions

Sabine Holdorf-Schust, General Manager, THW Kiel
Yes of course it was hard to get to Cologne for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 following our two quarter-final matches with Zagreb - they were very strong.
I think everybody has seen that Zagreb are a great team. Of course they wanted to reach the VELUX EHF FINAL4 too but now we have reached it and we are very proud to be part of it again and we will see (who will win).

We didn’t want to draw AG Kobenhavn because we played them in the Group Phase. Before the draw we said we wanted Füsche Berlin or Atletico Madrid and now it is Berlin so it is ok.

It is difficult to say whether THW Kiel are the favourites in this semi-final. Berlin have had a great VELUX EHF Champions League season and have had a lot of good results. Of course maybe we are the favourites in our tie but we will see a strong match. I think it will be difficult for both clubs to play against each other at the VELUX EHF FINAL4.

Soren Colding, Club Manager, AG Kobenhavn
Our first goal was to qualify for the VELUX EHF FINAL4, and we are now at the draw today, so our first goal has been reached. Of course we want to win the VELUX EHF Champions League title but now we have to play against Atletico Madrid in the semi-final and we will go for winning. They are very difficult opponents but we will give our all to win.

It won’t be easier for us to beat the second-ranked team in the Spanish League (AG Kobenhavn beat FC Barcelona Intersport, who are ranked first in Spain, in the VELUX EHF Champions League quarter-finals), but I guess it won’t be a different game, but it is one game – you have to give your all. You can’t say “maybe we will have a little loss and then make it up at home in the second game”.

This is one game you have to win and we will do everything we can to win. I would not say that Atletico Madrid are not as good as FC Barcelona Intersport – they are at the same level.

I hope the qualification of AG Kobenhavn for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 gives handball a boost in Denmark – we have reached an enormous level at the moment in Denmark; look at all the spectators and TV viewers who watched our quarter-final games against FC Barcelona. Qualifying for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 will make this even more.

Luis Miguel López, General Manager, Atletico Madrid
It is the first time Atletico Madrid have made the VELUX EHF FINAL4, but before, as Ciudad Real we have reached it twice. The players, coach and organisation are the same, but the spirit is more important for my club as it is the first time we are in the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and we hope for the first time we win the trophy.

We finished in third place the first time we made a VELUX EHF FINAL4, second place the second time, so we hope that this, the third time, we will win. It is very difficult though as in Cologne, for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 it is the best club teams in the world. We must play against Kobenhavn who beat the winners of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 from last year in the quarter-finals. The club is very strong with very good players, a very good coach and will be very important in the future of European club handball.

There are two new teams in the VELUX EHF FINAL4 – Berlin and Kobenhavn – and this is a very important point. Experience is very important in this competition over two days and Kiel and Atletico Madrid have this experience, which is good for both of us.

However, both Berlin and Kobenhavn are very strong clubs with very strong players.

Stefan Güter, Office Manager, Füsche Berlin
Before the last few seconds of our quarter-final second leg at Reale Ademar Leon I didn’t think that we were going through. At the beginning of the season we didn’t expect to come so far, nobody, except our players thought we would be here in Cologne today, but after a big fight we are here
and we will enjoy it.

We know all the teams we could have faced in the semi-finals, but THW Kiel are the favourites in our tie, but I think that we are well prepared for the game because we have played in a very strong group in the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase with Chekhovskie, Kielce and Madrid as well as the Last 16.

We will see – Kiel are favourites as they are also German champions – anything can happen!

View photos from the VELUX EHF FINAL4 draw HERE.

Visit the official VELUX EHF FINAL4 website at www.ehfFINAL4.com

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TEXT: EHF/AMc/Interviews by Björn Pazen