“Pale faces before the game”

Only a few minutes after the final whistle, Noka Serdarusic was already looking into the future. In an interview with Eurohandball.com he explains why his team lost the final against Ciudad Real.

Eurohandball.com: Mr. Serdarusic, do you have an idea why the CL title went to Ciudad and not to THW?

Serdarusic: The victory was fully deserved by Ciudad Real. In the first game we performed very well, but we knew that it would not be easy for us at home. Right before the match I looked in the eyes of my players and they seemed to be petrified. There was no joy in their eyes and without it you can’t win such an important handball game. They looked like they would attend a funeral, not a match. So we played way too nervous during the whole match.

Eurohandball.com: Are you angry with your team?

Serdarusic: No, I never criticise my team publicly. And I can’t say that anyone did not give all he could. But everybody knows that we didn’t play well and all our mistakes were punished by Ciudad Real. Maybe the burden was too big for my players.

Eurohandball.com: Why did you substitute your captain, Stefan Lövgren, so early?

Serdarusic: Just take a look at the defence of Ciudad Real! They switched Nikola Karabatic off, they defended so well against him. So if I though it would be better to bring Filip Jicha on court, because he can put more pressure on the Ciudad defence than Stefan. But Filip didn’t play in his best form. And all the others didn’t have enough passion.

Eurohandball.com: In the very last minute there was a fight, started by Christian Zeitz. What do you think about it?

Serdarusic: It was very foolish from Christian to do so, but you have to understand: you were very close to lose such an important match and you could see your dream vanishing. When your pulse is 180, you have a lot of adrenaline. Things happened, I have to apologise for this, but those emotions belong to sports.

Eurohandball.com: Life goes on for THW. On Wednesday you will have a chance to win the German title again. Are you looking forward to the next objective?

Serdarusic: Yes, of course. We have already won the German Cup and we will win the German title too. Then we have two major titles this season, besides winning the German Supercup and the EHF Champions Trophy. But we didn’t win the triple, this is hard. Next season, which is going to be my last season with THW, I hope we will have the chance to win the triple again.