14.05.2012, 12:42
Post-match press conference

Hear what the main players and the coaches had to say after the EHF Women's Champions League 2011/12 Final Second Leg.

Post-match press conference - EHF Women's Champions League Final, Second Leg

Bojana POPOVIC, Buducnost captain:

"All of my six EHF Women's Champions League titles were different but this one is great; to win it on home ground and with the home team.

"We were very confident we would win the match today, but Györ were on the same level as us - we will now celebrate for two days.

"We did something great, we won the EHF Women's Champions League trophy. We have worked diligently, there was criticism on the way to the Final, but all the girls resisted to all that, they showed character, and proved nothing could stop them to win a big trophy.

"There is a lot of talking about my retirement, and this is the most beautiful way to finish my career. In the past 10 years I have won seven or eight trophies and it's time to retire. All those clubs who invest so much from year to year now can reach the title. It's not fair that many clubs invest so much, and they can not win anything.

"I think luck is really by my side, knowledge is probably not, but somehow I always take trophies and I am thankful for this fortune, I hope that happiness will remain here, with this club".

In response to the Buducnost fans chanting "Bojana stay, Bojana stay".

"They would do it every year. It feels good when someone wants you, but when I returned to Budućnost, I had my goals and announced that I would stay for two years. I said that the first season will be very difficult, and we made it to the semifinals, which I think was a great success. This season, with some newcomers, Maja Savić, Dragana Cvijić and Clara Woltering, we won a title. We have matured. I'll keep my promise, because I fulfilled my mission and now it's time for me to devote to my family".

Karl ERIK BÖHN, Győri Audi ETO KC coach:

"The best two teams made it to the final and at the end Buducnost deserved the narrow victory and trophy.

"We didn´t use our chances in the decisive moments and luck was not on our side so in a hard fight our opponents deservedly won the title.

"We´ll have to try winning the trophy next season."

Dragan ADŽIĆ, Budućnost coach:

"Not too many people believed in us, not just this year but also the years before, and because of that we were getting stronger and stronger. I also remember that after Brazil and the World Championships there were all the possible and impossible critiques. But we are a big team, true winners, that's why we are here.

"I am grateful to Bojana Popović and Maja Savić, I learned a lot from them as a coach, and as a man, like other players did. I am grateful to the man who had a vision, who brought back Bojana Popović. That's Predrag Bošković. The first great thing for Budućnost was the arrival of Vinko Kandija, in the 80's, without whom club would not be at this level. The other great thing was the return of Bojana Popović and Maja Savić, who made this possible."

Jovanka RADIČEVIĆ, Győri Audi ETO KC right winger:

"I want to congratulate Budućnost on the historical success, especially to Maja Savić and Bojana Popović. They deserved to win yet another trophy at the end of their careers.

"The game was uncertain until the very end. In the last 10 minutes we didn't play good in defence. I'm sorry, but this is sport. I take the opportunity to greet fans, but I am a little surprised by the whistles.

"They need to understand that I am a professional player, I always give my best and they shouldn't get wrong impression about my way of celebrating. It raises my adrenaline, I don't want to provoke the club or the girls with whom I played all these years, and with whom I will play with in the qualifying tournament for the Olympics. Fans have to realise that this is me, it's my character".

Maja SAVIĆ, Budućnost left-winger:

"I am thrilled. After so many years I came back, wanting to win the title with this team and Bojan. We deserve it - hell we did! We had too much pressure, because no one has seen such a large number of exclusions at home, but we managed to stay infront.

"The real winner is the one who plays against all the best, and we did it. I remember all the critics after returning from Brazil, after the World Championships, this is the product of that. If we had won a medal there, surely we would not have come to this.

"In that way we know that the real winner is not running away from criticism, that do not fear the defeat, but goes further. Finally, at the end we deserved to hold the EHF Women's Champions League trophy. I am glad that it happened in the twilight of my career, with this girls, the coach, the coaching staff. This is for our Montenegro".

"I think this is the right time (to retire) and the most beautiful way to end a career".

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TEXT: Saša Jončić