CL debut of Ivana Lovric

ehfCL.com talks to young Croatian star Ivana Lovric who enjoys living and working in France. Middle back player arrived in Metz this season. Along with her came good results.

In her very first CL season 24-year old middle back player is leading Metz to main round. If they succeed it will be the biggest clubs achievement in CL ever.

ehfCL.com: You came to Metz from Lokomotiva. What has changed in your life and in yourhandball carrier?

Ivana Lovric: Everything is different here then in Croatia. Way of thinking, working, it all seems more relaxed. I don’t feel any pressure. My team-mates are great; there are many French internationals in my team. I am sure I will improve playing with them. I am still learning language and in general I am more then satisfied. It will be even better when I get to know language and team.

ehfCL.com: How do you like Metz and France?

Ivana Lovric: I like Metz very much. It is city which is big enough but also small enough. There are many things you can spend your time and money on. France is big country, we need about eight hours by TGV (French train) when we travel to our league matches. We travel with the train 300km/hour. It is all new for me and very exciting.

ehfCL.com: You are not only Croatian in French Champion team. Vesna Horacek plays important role in Metz. She has been top scorer of the club for many years.

Ivana Lovric: Yes, she is great. Vesna also helps me a lot in everyday stuff because paper work here takes long time and everything is very complicated. So without her everything would be much more difficult.

ehfCL.com: Metz keep surprising us. First you qualified for CL from very difficult qualification group with Byasen and Volgograd. Now you defeated Krim in Ljubljana and Nurnberg which leaves you with good chances for main round.

Ivana Lovric: Yes we did surprise everybody including us. And also we got good group because both Nurnberg and Krim are on same level like we are. We did great job in Ljubljana, we played good match with firm defence and good organization in offence. We also defeated Nurnberg and I think now we have good chances to reach main round.