“We have to fight harder”

Eurohandball.com talks to Hamburg coach, Martin Schwalb

Eurohandball.com: Your team lost the first semi-final by seven goals. What do you say about the chances to reach the final?

Schwalb: We do not think about how many goals we have to throw. We know that we have to play better than we did in Spain and then we will have a chance to reach the final.

Eurohandball.com: What weaknesses did you find in your team, and what will HSV do better on Friday?

Schwalb: We played well in the first half, but then our performance fell back and Ciudad went ahead goal by goal. We will have to be more determined on Friday and we have to fight harder. We have to play on higher speed than in the second half in Ciudad Real.

Eurohandball.com: Will the benches be decisive as Hamburg do not have as many alternatives due to injuries?

Schwalb: It’s sheer madness what possibilities Ciudad Real have on their bench. They change world class player to world class player. We don’t have these possibilities these days due to a long series of injuries. But therefore we have to fight harder.

Eurohandball.com: Due to these injuries you signed Heiko Grimm during the winter. He showed a convincing performance in the first match. Did you expect so much from him?

Schwalb: We knew what we could expect from him. He became a part of our team immediately and showed good performances. It’s great to see that now all the former critics are persuaded.

Eurohandball.com: What role will the spectators and the atmosphere play tomorrow evening?

Schwalb: A very, very important one. Team and spectators have to motivate each other and have to show that their objective is the same. Both have to give everything they can to reach the final.

Eurohandball.com: How did you prepare this week for this “match of the matches”?

Schwalb: Fortunately, we did not have to play a league match this week, so our concentration was fully focused on the match against Ciudad Real. And we know what we have to change to be successful.