Skjern – Veszprém pregame statements

 

We asked the opinion of our headcoach and 3 players about the upcoming Champions League eights-final against Skjern Handbold.

 

Ljubomir Vranjes: We are playing against a very good team who are I think are number ones in Denmark. They have a lot of experience as a team as well. They play good and fast handball. Our opponent is a strong one. I think they play in a very good structure. They have great fastbreak that we have to be careful about. We have to do our job a 100%. Skjern scores 30 goals almost every game so our defense has to work well. In addition, our goalkeepers has to perform well. We have to concentrate on ourselves.

 

 

Mirko Alilovic: They deserved to qualify for the best 16 teams of the Champions League against Motor Zaporozhye. They play well, they were first in their group. They play typical Scandinavian handball, because they run a lot. I think their strength is their fastbreaks and the second wave they arrive in attack. If we can stop that with our defense, I think we can do a lot of great things. We do know that we are the favorites in this series but we have to prove it on the court because everything is decided there.

 

 

Máté Lékai: Now comes the part of the season that everybody loves the most, when it is the matter of life and death. If we lose here, we will not have a chance to achieve our goals. Of course, we would like to win in away, so we are preparing for our opponent. We analyzed their game already. Our goal is to come home with a victory in the bag. Their biggest strength is their movement around the line player. Bjarte Myrhol, who in my opinion is the best line player in the world, plays a center role in the team, a role that is hardly ever filled by a line player in any other team. He gets a lot of balls. Besides this, their fastbreaks are dangerous. They are fast; they have a lot of technique, as it is so usual at Scandinavian teams and players. We know what we have to do to stop these.

 

 

Dragan Gajic: They certainly play fast and good handball. We have a lot of respect for this team. We are preparing in more details than for every other games so far. I expect a good, hard game especially in the first leg because they will be hardly motivated, as they have nothing to lose. These games for us are the most difficult ones but we believe in ourselves. We would like to go through them but for that, we have to show everything we know. They run pretty well in the counter attack and in the second wave. The ball is fast when they are playing 6 against 6. They have a good connection to Myrhol. We have a lot of things to be careful about so we have to prepare well, especially mentally. If we will be well mentally, and we show desire, emotions and the will to win the game, I think we can win in Denmark.

 

 

Photo: Dávid Vörös