Aalborg not here to make up the numbers
After overcoming the challenge of KIF Kolding in the finals of the Danish league, Aalborg Handbold will get their second taste of handball at the highest level in the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase. Formerly known as AaB Handbold, the two time Danish champions competed at this level in the 2010/11 season.
It is the clear objective of the club and coach Nicolaj Jacobsen to proceed to the Last 16 in Group D, where they will face Flensburg, La Rioja, Velenje, Hamburg and the winner of the qualification match between Halmstad and Esch.
“We are really looking forward to playing in the Champions League again and we have great expectations.
“We are going to meet exciting teams, not at least two from Germany,” says manager Jan Larsen.
“It is a dream come true to play in this competition. We will have to play our very best to earn those victories needed to proceed to the knock-out stage,” admits team captain Jacob Bagersted.
Two key players in Aalborg’s championship winning team have departed during the summer: goalkeeper Johan Sjöstrand, who moved to THW Kiel after arriving in Aalborg at the beginning of the previous season, and Norwegian back court player Kristian Kjelling, who will replace Rasmus Lauge (also left to Kiel) at Bjerringbro-Silkeborg.
 Three questions to coach Nikolaj Jacobsen:
ehfCL.com: What are your expectations for the upcoming season of the VELUX EHF Champions League - concerning your objectives and your group opponents?
Nikolaj Jacobsen: We are going for the Last 16. The two German teams are the favourites in our group, but we will do the best we can to take the third or fourth place in our group.
ehfCL.com: What does the participation in the VELUX EHF Champions League mean to you and your club?
Nikolaj Jacobsen: The VELUX EHF Champions League is the biggest competition for all teams. The matches give both the clubs and players a great experience and we expect a big crowd for our home matches.
ehfcl.com: What teams are your personal favourites to reach the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and for winning the title this season – and why?
Nikolaj Jacobsen: THW Kiel, FC Barcelona, PSG Handball and Veszprém. PSG have an exciting and strong team and the three other teams have gone far in the competition before and have the power to do it again.
Aalborg Handball (DEN)
Qualification for the 2013/14 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Danish Champion
Coach: Nicolaj Jakobsen, since 2012
Newcomers (including former club): Stig Bugge (TNS Ringsted), Marcus Mörk (NORS-Thy Handbold), Nicolai Pedersen (Nordsjaelland Handbold), Richard Kappelin (Al-Gharafa, Qatar), Buster Jüül (Skanderborg Handbold)
Left the club (including new club): Johan Sjöstrand (THW Kiel), Kristian Kjelling (Bjerringbro-Silkeborg), Jan Lennartsson (end of career), Rune Spliid (Ajax Kobenhavn)
VELUX EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2013/14 season): 2
Group Phase (1): 2010/11
Danish champion: 2009/10, 2012/13
Danish Cup winner: - (2012 Super-Cup winner)
Photo credit: Aalborg Handball
TEXT: Björn Pazen / cor
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