Last Spanish challenges for Hansen

Danish international Mikkel Hansen´s career in Spanish handball will end this summer after only two years in FC Barcelona. This has been a fact for some time now, as the 22 year old left back will return to the Danish league after this season to join the ambitious new Copenhagen club AG København.

"I am really looking forward to being part of building such an interesting new project, and hopefully be able to play a part in Europe with this new team also," Mikkel Hansen, who was born in Hamlet’s city Elsinore, told eurohandball.com.

Before all this can happen, however, he will be looking at a number of challenges with Barcelona, who are chasing Ciudad Real in the battle for the Spanish championship, and at the same time are in a duel with THW Kiel for the first place in Group D of the Champions League.

The first really big challenge will be this coming weekend, when the Champions League group stage begins again with the direct encounter between the two top teams in Group D, Kiel and Barcelona.

eurohandball.com: How do you see the upcoming challenges with Barcelona?

Mikkel Hansen: It is going to be really exciting! We are looking at some really tough matches in February already, as we are facing Kiel in the CL as well as Ciudad Real in the Spanish league this month. The Spanish championship will probably be decided in our match against Ciudad – if we lose against them again, I think the championship will be decided, at least.

Before that match, we are going to meet Kiel in the Champions League, and that match will undoubtedly give us an idea as to where we stand, also when looking ahead at the Ciudad game. I really hope and believe that we can win in Kiel and take the first place in the group. I think our team has improved a lot really, so the near future looks interesting.

eurohandball.com: How far can Barcelona go in the Champions League this year?

Mikkel Hansen: I think we can go fairly far. We have a really strong team, having several good players for each position which also makes us less vulnerable to injury. Therefore I think we can make it far.

eurohandball.com: In the remaining matches in the group phase, you and your team-mates will also be visiting Danish champions KIF Kolding. Is it special to you as a Dane to play against a Danish team?

Mikkel Hansen: It is always extra fun to play against a Danish team, no doubt about that. On the other hand, however, it is a match like any other match, and it does not mean that I will have to prove anything special. I will simply be trying to play like I usually do. Of course, a win will be a must, but that is the way it is every time Barcelona play.

eurohandball.com: There is always a huge interest, not least abroad, when Barcelona are visiting. For instance, your match in Kolding is sold out already, even though the match is not until the 6^th of March. What is it like for you to be subject to such an enormous interest?

Mikkel Hansen: It is great fun. It is always so cool, when there are lots of people in the halls, where you play, so that is really something I enjoy.