"100 percent passion needed"

Rhein-Neckar Löwen lost their VELUX EHF Champions League match in Kiel last Sunday, and in addition, they recently lost two Bundesliga matches, firstly at CL participant Flensburg, and then, last Wednesday evening, in Hamburg (31:32). Despite those three straight defeats, all of which were very close, Löwen manager Thorsten Storm is still confident of returning to winning ways, especially in the upcoming return match against Kiel on Friday in Mannheim. He gives his views in this interview on the Löwen website.

ehfCL.com: What is the current psychological situation in the club?

Thorsten Storm: Defeats, especially defeats with a one goal difference in the last second, as in Flensburg and Hamburg, really hurt. But it’s important to stand up again and to look ahead to the upcoming tasks.

This is exactly what we are doing now – we’re looking ahead to THW Kiel.

ehfCL.com: What’s currently missing from your team and preventing them from beating top teams like Kiel or Hamburg – as Löwen has already won in Barcelona?

Thorsten Storm: We were the better team in Hamburg, but we weren’t rewarded for our strong performance. But when you look at the way we are playing right now, it will not take long before our time will come to beat those opponents.

We have the potential, even if one or two players didn’t play at their highest level in the last few matches. You do not need to have the seven best players in the World, as it’s enough to have the best seven players on the court.

ehfCl.com: What does this mean for the two upcoming matches against THW Kiel on Friday and Wednesday?

Thorsten Storm: We had a period with a lot of really hard matches, and our left-handed players, especially, had to stand on the court for almost 60 minutes due to injuries.

But despite those facts we must have 100 percent passion, hunger and greed against Kiel. All players have to steel themselves for success.

I think the defence and the goalkeepers will be the key to success against Kiel. Like the slogan of our sponsor says, we have to give ‘full throttle’.