 Lindberg: No thoughts about failure
Top scorer with 101 goals in the VELUX EHF Champions League’s 2012/13 season, top scorer of the German Bundesliga season with 235 goals and top scorer of the German Cup with 28 goals – HSV Hamburg right wing Hans Lindberg had an extraordinary scoring season, never before had a player been top scorer in all three competitions, which was crowned by the title at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in June.
The 32-year-old double EHF EURO champion (2008, 2012) was the second Dane after Mikkel Hansen in 2012 to win the golden adidas ball as the competitions top scorer.
Despite these trophies and last season’s success Hans Lindberg and HSV could be soon forgotten on the European stage unless they qualify for the Group Phase this season, as Hamburg missed out on direct qualification.
Before the crucial all-German wild card qualification matches against Füchse Berlin on Wednesday 21 August in Berlin and two days later in Hamburg, Hans Lindberg talks about his side's chances and the pressure, the triple top scorer crown but also his “sandy summer experience” in his home country.
ehfCL.com: What has changed at HSV Hamburg after winning the VELUX EHF FINAL4?
Hans Lindberg: The mood, of course (smiles). We all had not been satisfied with our last season, but finally we “saved” it thanks to this weekend in Cologne, which had been an “all-or-nothing” event for us, with a brilliant outcome eventually.
ehfCL.com: What significance did this trophy also do for the public image of your club?
Hans Lindberg: Indeed a huge one! This success shone the spotlight on HSV Hamburg and handball as a whole, far beyond the German borders. This great event really brought our club forward.
ehfCL.com: HSV missed out on direct qualification for the Group Phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League 2013/14. How do you rate the chances of Hamburg in the wild card qualification matches against Füchse Berlin?
Hans Lindberg: Absolutely equal. Berlin have a great team, but we are also well positioned. We start those matches in a positive way, we are willing and we definitely want to continue in the Champions League.
ehfCL.com: Is their any favourite in these matches?
Hans Lindberg: Definitely not!
ehfCL.com: In case Hamburg make their way to the Group Stage, how do rate the chances for another successful international season?
Hans Lindberg: Of course good. We have a marvellous team including a huge number of newcomers. They – and of course us, too – are hungry for success, we want to confirm our last successful season and we want to be more consistent in the domestic league.
ehfCL.com: Since 2008 HSV Hamburg had been a constant participant of the knock-out stages of the VELUX EHF Champions League. What would a failure in the qualification mean for you?
Hans Lindberg: We are not concerned about a failure right now. We think positively and we are well prepared for those matches.
ehfCL.com: Last season Hamburg were the first team ever to make it all the way from the qualification to the top of the VELUX EHF Champions League podium. Is this a good omen for this season?
Hans Lindberg: I don’t know by now. Of course it is a brilliant story, especially as we made it from qualification to Group Phase only in extra-time (32:31 against Saint-Raphael Var). This successful way is a sign for us, never to surrender and to believe in success until the very end.
ehfCL.com: You were top scorer of the VELUX EHF Champions League, the Bundesliga and the German Cup in the last season. How important are those trophies for you?
Hans Lindberg: You have to bring the background of those trophies into question. If I would not play for a team like this, which stands as one behind me and helped me in all situations, those trophies would have never been possible.
Of course those trophies are special awards for me personally, but if my team would be more successful without me being the top scorer of a competition, then I would happily give it up.
ehfCL.com: Is defending this top scorer triple one of your objectives for the next season?
Hans Lindberg: Not personally, but of course I want to score as many goals as possible to be as successful as possible with my team.
ehfCL.com: Away from Hamburg, you have already won your first medal of this season as bronze medallist at the European Beach Handball Championship in Randers, Denmark. How important is playing on the sand for you?
Hans Lindberg: This is a great alternation from indoor handball and additionally you have the opportunity to stay fit in the summer. Fun is important, but my hunger for winning is even bigger – I hate to lose, regardless of the competition.
TEXT: Björn Pazen / cor
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