Toma: “Fight until the last second”

Right wing Laurentiu Toma has played a major role in HCM Constanta’s success story of the last few years. Toma is captain of the Romanian champions and spoke for all of his team mates when he promised that Constanta would fight until the very last second in their upcoming match against Renovalia Ciudad Real. Nothing but a victory in that game is the Romanians’ last chance to grab a Last 16 place in the VELUX EHF Men's Champions League.

ehfCL.com: Despite a six goal lead against RK Bosna Sarajevo, HCM Constanta lost the match. How did that happen?

Laurentiu Toma: We were terribly unlucky during the final minutes of the game, but I don’t blame bad luck for our loss. But our mistakes helped Bosna to make this comeback. Their fans, who had been quiet during the first half, saw that we were in a bad spot and supported their team to win. It’s hard to explain what happened, we lost crucial points that would have helped our cause.

ehfCL.com: After this loss, your team has only slim chances of reaching the next stage of the VELUX EHF Men's Champions League. Do you believe it could happen?

Laurentiu Toma: Yes, and we will fight until the last second in order to secure our objective. The defeat against RK Bosna Sarajevo has minimized our chances to qualify for the next stage, but I’m convinced that we’ll give our best in the next match against Renovalia Ciudad Real.

ehfCL.com: Your team has a certain reputation for being a “giant killer”. In the previous seasons, you managed to win against F.C. Barcelona or Montpellier Agglomeration HB. What are your expectations before the game against Renovalia Ciudad Real?

Laurentiu Toma: Renovalia Ciudad Real is a great team, they for sure are one of the best teams in the VELUX EHF Men's Champions League. But I also know that we are a high-quality team and everything is possible in handball. We have been preparing thoroughly for this game. The Spanish side will have an important match in their domestic league this weekend, therefore they could come to Constanta a little relaxed. We have nothing to lose and with a slight touch of luck we are able to win this game.

ehfCL.com: During this season, HCM Constanta changed their coaches three times. How did these changes affect the team?

Laurentiu Toma: Every coach has his own style and his own training methods. It’s not easy to adapt. We got surprised, but we tried to give our best. Still the coach changes were not easy to cope with. So our situation is not the best right now, as we unfortunately didn’t manage to surpass all these difficulties. Still it is us, the players, who also are a big part of the reason we got here in the first place.

ehfCL.com: HCM Constanta is on its way to defend the Romanian title. If you manage with that, do you think that you will perform better in the next season of the VELUX EHF Men's Champions League?

Laurentiu Toma:There are still a lot of matches to be played in Romania, but if we really manage to win our championship, I’m sure that we will be better next year. We need stability both in the roster and on the bench. So if we can play at our full potential, I am convinced that we can go far.

Constanta’s final chance to snatch a place for the Last 16 in Group D against last season’s EHF FINAL4 participants from Spain will be broadcast live on our free-of-charge web stream on ehfTV.com.

VELUX EHF Men's Champions League, Group Phase, Round 10
Thursday 3 March 2011, 19:00 (local time)
HCM Constanta (ROU) vs. Renovalia Ciudad Real (ESP)

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