 Cologne is the goal for Vranjes
They know how to reach the finals of the Champions League, as they did in 2004 and 2007, but have never been to Cologne and this is the season SG Flensburg-Handewitt are planning on changing that fact.
The VELUX EHF FINAL4 is the target this season, after agonisingly missing out against eventual champions HSV Hamburg in the quarter-finals last season.
In contrast to their local rivals THW Kiel, the Flensburg squad has almost remained the same. Out of the top players, only Petar Djordjic left the club (to Hamburg) and they have signed highly talented young players, Bogdan Radivojevic and Jim Gottfridsson, to add depth to their squad.
Both players have already proven their value to the team in the defeat of THW Kiel in the German Super Cup, a sign that they are willing to go all the way in all competitions.
Flensburg, known for their frenetic fans in the Flens-Arena, announced their international objective of “competing at the VELUX EHF FINAL4” – a sign for the confidence in the team of coach Ljubomir Vranjes, who led SG to their last international title, the EHF Cup Winners’ Cup, in 2012.
Flensburg open the season with only one long-term injury, German international Lars Kaufmann, but hope that he will be back soon after a knee operation.
So Swedish team captain Tobias Karlsson is very optimistic for the upcoming season.
“We want to go all the way to Cologne and first of all our objective is to become group winner.
“We definitely know that this is a hard way to go but we are very happy to take part in this competition again. Probably the games against our German opponent will be the toughest,” says Karlsson.
Flensburg will face Aalborg, Velenje, La Rioja, Hamburg and the winner of the qualification tie Halmstad vs Esch in Group D and manager Dierk Schmäschke is happy with the draw.
“Aalborg is an interesting opponent in the group phase for us as a German team located directly at the Danish border.
“We hope there will be lots of Danish fans to attend our first home match in the group. Spanish teams in this competition always have a high quality.
“Our objective is to go the next step further this time; we want to participate in the FINAL4. The attendance in that event is a highlight for every handball player,” explained Karlsson.
Three questions to coach Ljubomir Vranjes:
 What are your expectations for the upcoming season of the VELUX EHF Champions League - concerning your objectives and your group opponents?
Ljubomir Vranjes: Our general objective is to win each game. Therefore an improvement of the team is the main key. Regarding VELUX EHF Champions League we want to take part in the VELUX EHF FINAL4.
What does the participation in the VELUX EHF Champions League mean to you and your club?
Ljubomir Vranjes: We are very proud to be part of this competition and to play against the best teams in the world. Being one of those teams is an excellent motivation for us. Our participation is the result of hard work that we did last year.
We really deserve to be part of the Champions League. For me as a coach my objective is the improvement of young players - and playing on the international stage is a perfect opportunity to do so.
Which teams are your personal favourites to reach the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and for winning the title this season – and why?
Ljubomir Vranjes: The four teams which participated in Cologne in the previous season have good chances to enter the VELUX EHF FINAL4 again, but there are some more teams with good chances in my opinion.
Montpellier and my team have a chance and I think that all teams that participate in the VELUX EHF FINAL4 are able to win the cup. However, my personal favourite for the title is FC Barcelona.
SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER)
Qualification for the 2013/2014 VELUX EHF Champions League season: German runners-up
Newcomers (including former club): Hampus Wanne (Önnereds HK), Bogdan Radivojevic (RK Partizan Belgrad), Jim Gottfridsson (Ystad IF), Draško Nenadić (Quabit BM Guadalajara)
Left the club (including new club): Petar Djordjic (HSV Hamburg), Arnor Atlason (Saint-Raphaël Var Handball), Florian von Gruchalla (VfL Gummersbach), Morten Dibbert (HSG Tarp-Wanderup), Malte Voigt (SV Henstedt-Ulzburg), Thies-Jacob Volquardsen (TSV Altenholz)
Coach: Ljubomir Vranjes, since November 2010
VELUX EHF Champions League records:
Participations (including 2013/2014 season): 9
Final (2): 2003/2004, 2006/2007
Semi Final (1): 2005/2006
Quarter Final (4): 2004/2005, 2008/2009, 2010/2011, 2012/2013
Main Round (1): 2007/2008
Other EC records:
Cup Winners Cup:
Winner 2000/2001 2011/2012
EHF Cup:
Winner: 1996/1997
City Cup:
Winner 1998/1999
German champion: 2004
German Cup winner: 2003, 2004, 2005
TEXT: Björn Pazen / cor
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