04.04.2018, 03:10
Midtjylland hope to copy Skjern achievement

FEATURE: Going into the Women's EHF Champions League Quarter-final against pre-match favourites Vardar, FCM draw inspiration from a sensational victory by another Danish team

Midtjylland hope to copy Skjern achievement

No one would argue that Telekom Veszprém HC were huge favourites against Skjern Håndbold in the Last 16 of the VELUX EHF Champions League.

Still, Skjern pulled off a sensation and eliminated the mighty Hungarian side to clinch the quarter-final berth.

That achievement has inspired the women’s team from nearby FC Midtjylland.

In a similar David vs Goliath match, they face HC Vardar in the Women’s EHF Champions League Quarter-final (first leg Friday at 19:00 hrs, live on ehfTV.com).

"Nothing is impossible if only you belief in yourself"

What Skjern achieved has raised the hopes of Midtjylland.

“Skjern’s result has obviously increased our motivation ahead of the quarter-final – as if our motivation was not big enough already, though,” Midtjylland right back Louise Burgaard tells ehfCL.com. “What Skjern accomplished has shown us that nothing is impossible if only you believe in yourself.”

The 25-year-old Danish international and her Midtjylland teammates also met Vardar in the quarter-finals a year ago. It were two close matches but the Macedonian side ended up winning both by two goals, 28:26 in Ikast and 26:24 at home.

FCM, nicknamed The Wolves, even came close to qualifying for the Women’s EHF FINAL4 in Budapest as they were leading the second leg in Skopje by three goals at one point. Vardar turned the tide, though, and went on to reach the final, where they gave Györi Audi ETO KC a tough fight.

“Compared to the quarter-final last year, we are quite a new team and so are Vardar, so one should probably be careful to make too many comparisons to those matches a year ago,” Burgaard says.

“However, the fact that we have been there before, and the fact that we have actually experienced the feeling of being able to put a favourite like Vardar under pressure on away ground has obviously contributed to our experience and to our belief that creating a surprise is absolutely possible.”

Several players missing and tough schedule

What might speak against FC Midtjylland’s chances is the fact that the team is missing several players due to pregnancy or injury. Also, they are currently on a tough schedule which also includes the play-offs for the Danish championship.

Midtjylland are playing a potentially decisive play-off match at home against Odense Håndbold on Wednesday night, only 48 hours before the first meeting with Vardar.

“Of course, this is tough, physically as well as mentally,” Burgaard says. “But it is also the time of the year where everything is being decided, the time which is the fun part of the year, and the part we train and work hard for during the rest of the year.”

The right back adds that her team must get the Odense game out of their heads as quickly as possible.

“No matter how our play-off match against Odense turns out, we simply have to start focusing on Vardar, so we can get as good a result as possible before the return match next weekend.”

TEXT: Peter Bruun / ew