14.09.2014, 06:10
Massive summer overhaul for the Oilers

VELUX EHF Champions League countdown, part 14: Orlen Wisla Plock will be unrecognisable when the new-look squad hit the court for the first time

Massive summer overhaul for the Oilers

Eleven players left, while just six arrived at Plock over the summer, giving Manuel Cadenas, Orlen Wisla Plock and Spanish national team coach, plenty to think about at the beginning of his second season at the club.

After eliminating Montpellier in the wildcard qualification last season, the Polish runners-up this year were awarded with direct entry into the group phase.

Among those who left, some big names occur like right back Marcin Lijewski, goalkeeper Marin Sego (replaced by Spaniard Rodrigo Corales) and experienced playmaker Nikola Eklemovic.

Right before the start of the season, another key player, Serbian international Petar Nenadic, left for German side Füchse Berlin to replace the injured Polish playmaker Bartlomjei Jaska.

Plock needed to react and found a solution in Spain, signing the Kazakh Alexandre Tioumentsev from Naturhouse La Rioja.

Mariusz Jurkiewics will leave Plock after this season to join arch rivals Kielce, who had again snatched away the Polish championship from the “Oilers” thanks to a 3:1 series win in the league final.

After the EHF EURO 2014 break Plock had already signed tall Spanish right back Angel Montoro, whose talent had already been discovered by Cadenas, when he was coach in Leon.

Besides Jurkiewiccz and Montoro, left wing Ivan Nikcevic, goalkeeper Marcin Wichary and right wing Valentin Ghionea remain Plock’s key players.

To fight with Kielce for the domestic title and to qualify for the VELUX EHF Champions League quarter-finals are the main goals of Cadenas & Co.

However, they were drawn into a tough group, competing with defending champions Flensburg, competition favourite Barcelona, Kolding Kobenhavn, Alingsas and Besiktas.

Three questions to coach Manuel Cadenas Cadenas:

What are your expectations for the upcoming season of the VELUX EHF Champions League - regarding your objectives and group opponents?

Manuel Cadenas: We want to be a tough opponent in all matches, and we will try to finish among the best four in our group to proceed to the knock-out stage.

What does the participation in the VELUX EHF Champions League mean to you and your club?

Manuel Cadenas: It is highly important for the club, the city and the fans to participate in the VELUX EHF Champions League. We will see the best European teams in the Orlen Arena.

What teams are your personal favourites to reach the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and for winning the title this season – and why?

Manuel Cadenas: Like always: Barcelona, Kiel and Kielce.

Orlen Wisla Plock (POL)

Qualification for the 2014/2015 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Polish runners-up

Coach: Manuel Cadenas (since 2013)

Newcomers: Nemanja Zelenovic, Milijan Pusica, Rodrigo Corrales, Tiago de Rocha, Michal Daszek, Alexandre Tioumentsev

Left the club: Marcin Lijewski, Mateusz Goralski, Ivan Milas, Nikola Eklemovic, Petar Nenadic, Bostajan Kavas, Vedran Zrnic, Janko Kevic, Muhamed Toromoanovic, Pawel Paczkowski, Marin Sego

VELUX EHF Champions League records:

Participations (including 2014/2015 season): 10
Last 16 (3): 1995/1996, 2011/2012, 2013/2014
Group Phase (5): 2002/2003, 2004/2005, 2005/2006, 2006/2007, 2008/2009
Qualification (1): 2012/2013

Other EC records:

EHF Cup
Quarter-finalist 1993/1994
Group Phase: 2012/2013

Polish champion: 1995, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011
Polish Cup winner: 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008

TEXT: Björn Pazen / cor