 Zagreb look to the future after group phase elimination
This season has been one of a tough transition for Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb's handballers.
The departure of eight first team players before the start of the season left coach Slavko Goluža with a bunch of young players who were talented but did not have experience of the VELUX EHF Champions League.
Growing up was hard for the team, even though the players have had a good season to date.
Five points and fifth place in Group D may not have been what Zagreb were expecting but that does not tell the entire tale.
Points lost in Minsk and Schaffhausen in the final seconds, and a six goal lead which was lost in Berlin proves that experience was the key factor and that it does not come overnight.
On the other hand, the quality in the squad is unquestionable.
Six players from the team were in the Croatia squad that won a bronze medal at the 2013 World Championship in Spain.
In this season's VELUX EHF Champions League, Zagreb had nine debutantes take the court – Stevanović, Ivić, Batinović, Šprem, Brozović, Mandalinić, Sršen, Matić and Stepančić.
Alongside those players, Josip Valčić and Marino Marić, who were not at the club in previous seasons, played key roles in the squad.
The setbacks continued throughout the season for Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb, David Špiler suffered an injury in the preparation for the World Championship, Mario Kelentrić retired, and Bojan Skoko transferred to Qatar.
After the final victory against Schaffhausen, Zagreb's greatest discovery of this season, Stipe Mandalinić spoke about the squad's future.
''I am very sorry that this is the end of our competition for this season, but I believe that time is on our side and that next year we'll be able to reach Last 16,'' said Mandalinić.
Another young player who shone for Zagreb was Luka Stepančić, their top scorer in the competition, with 51 goals in his opening season. These players have given coach Goluža plenty to be positive about.
“Everything takes time. Nothing happens over the night. With all the youth and inexperience and Špiler's injury we had too little time to get back after the World Championship and we don't have routine to make it faster.
But, I am not concerned and I am sure that we're on the right way.” concluded Goluža.
TEXT: Bruno Pinević / cor
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