22.11.2013, 06:47
Exceptional night in Flensburg for Djordjic

FEATURE: The 23-year-old left back returned to his former home with a new club for a big derby match in the VELUX EHF Champions League. He played well, he scored eight times, but still he left the arena Helle Nord with the losing side.

Exceptional night in Flensburg for Djordjic

Petar Djordjic was one of the central figures of the Thursday derby match between SG Flensburg Handewitt and HSV Hamburg in the Round 6 of the VELUX EHF Champions League.

At his former workplace at the Flensburg’s arena, he was difficult to stop, scored eight goals and won a positive comment of his coach Martin Schwalb, who praised “his nice step forward".

But on the other hand also the 23-year-old Serb could not prevent the home team to turn the table in the last 15 minutes and snapped HSV’s nine-game winning streak in the European top flight with their 27:24 victory.

Last time Hamburg lost in the continental premium club competition before Thursday’s match was in the second leg of the last season’s quarter-final against Flensburg too.

"I am an athlete, I always give 100 percent for my team," Djordjic said after the final whistle. "When we don’t win, then I can’t be satisfied, no matter how many goals I score."

For the left back player it was certainly a special game. For three and a half years he played for Flensburg, now he dons the HSV playing kit.

His new club played only eleven days ago a match in the German bundesliga in the far north, Djordjic knew exactly what could await him. He tried to keep the emotions in the cabin, to focus on the challenge ahead and he spoke with old friends only after the match in the passage or at the bus.

"Three and a half years aren’t easy to shake off," he admitted. "I still have many friends in Flensburg."

The professional registered the "super mood" in the round as well as some catcalls against his person.

"So I expected, that was already in the spring so after it had confirmed that I will go to Hamburg," he says and continued: "But these are probably only ten or 15 people. All other know that I didn’t go in dispute and that I gave always everything for Flensburg, when I played here."

TEXT: Jan Kirschner / br