04.09.2017, 08:00
The Oilers aim for the Last 16 again

VELUX EHF Champions League countdown: After failing to make it out of the group phase last season, Orlen Wisla Plock will be seeking to return to form, and take their place in the Last 16.

The Oilers aim for the Last 16 again

For three years straight, from 2013/14 to 2015/16, the “Oilers” made it to Last 16 in the VELUX EHF Champions League. However, last season, they narrowly missed making the knock-out stage. This year, the Polish runners-up from Plock will be looking to once again take their place among the best 16 teams of the competition.

Three questions before the new season

Is a spot in the Last 16 a realistic goal?

Looking at the squads of their main opponents, Zagreb and Kristianstad, Plock seem to have much better chance to progress than last year, when they were part of very tough group, and ultimately lost their place in the Last 16 on aggregate to Bjerringbro-Silkeborg.

Important considerations include their new goalkeeper (see below), and their performance in away matches. Last season, Plock won only one point in an away match (at Kiel), while the remaining seven points were earned at home in the Orlen Arena.

How can Plock manage the start?

For their first four group matches, Plock will face HC Vardar and FC Barcelona Lassa at home, and Rhein-Neckar Löwen and HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb away.

Could these matches leave Plock on zero points after four rounds? Maybe Plock can cause an upset, like they did against Kiel last season. Indeed, facing a team like Vardar so early could even be considered an advantage.

How will Plock manage without Spanish players?

In previous years, although predominantly from2013 to 2016 when Manuel Cadenas was coach, Plock’s squad was composed of a lot of Spanish players.

Now the last Spanish player, goalkeeper Rodrigo Corrales, has left to join Paris Saint-Germain Handball. As coach Piotr Przybecki is also the Polish national team coach, the face of the team became more domestic. Indeed, a Portuguese, a Russian and a Serbian have also left the club.

Under the spotlight: Adam Borbely

When Rodrigo Corrales left Plock for Paris, it was a huge step his career, and a major loss for Plock. However, because the transfer was confirmed as early as last summer, this gave Plock the time to find a successor.

They found him in young 22-year-old Hungarian Adam Borbely, from Telekom Veszprém HC. After two years of learning at Tatabánya and Balatonfüredi KSE, Borbely now grabs the chance to improve on international level. He will fight with new team captain Marcin Wichary for the number one position between the posts.

Self-esteem

Plock’s goal is to at least reach the Last 16 this season, as new president, Adam Wisniewski, announced. He expects a “theoretically easier group than last season,” which nevertheless has some of the best European teams.

“We can beat every team - and we know our opponents well,” adds new team captain Marcin Wichary.

Fun fact

From left wing to the president’s chair: This is the path Adam Wisniewski has taken in the build up to this season. After more than 20 years playing for the same side, the former Polish international decided to quit playing, and he now is the president of Orlen Wisla Plock. The 37-year-old was part of the Polish team at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, was six times Polish champion, and five times Polish cup winner with Plock.

What the numbers say

For two years in a row, in 2015 and 2016, Plock faced HC Vardar in the Last 16. In both encounters they were unbeaten at home ( with a draw and a win), but both times, they were eliminated in the second leg. Now, they face Vardar as the defending champions in the group phase, and not under the special pressure of a knock-out stage, and this may play in Plock’s favour.

Orlen Wisla Plock (POL)

Qualification for the 2017/2018 VELUX EHF Champions League season: Polish runners-up

Newcomers: Adam Borbely (Telekom Veszprém HC), Nemanja Obradovic (HC Metalurg), Przemislaw Krajewski (Azoty Pulawy), Igor Zabic (Sporting Lisboa/RK Celje)

Left the club: Rodrigo Corrales (PSG), Dmitri Zhitnikov (MOL Pick Szeged), Miljan Pusica (GWD Minden), Adam Wisniewski (retired), Tiago di Rocha (Sporting Lisboa), Zbigniew Kwiatkowski (MKS Kalisz)

Coach:  Piotr Przybecki (since 2016) 

Team captain: Marcin Wichary

VELUX EHF Champions League records:

Participations (including 2017/18 season): 13

Last 16 (5): 1995/96, 2011/12, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16,

Group Phase (6): 2002/03, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2008/09, 2016/17

Qualification (1): 2012/13

Other EC records:

EHF Cup

Quarter-finalist 1993/94, Group Phase: 2012/13

Polish league: 7 titles (1995, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011)

Polish Cup: 10 titles (1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008)

TEXT: Björn Pazen/kc