Grubišić: "To tighten our defence"

The ambitious team of Krim have hoped from year to year that they would reach the semi-final of the prestigious EHF Champions League. This year, the team of coach Tone Tiselj, has avoided last year´s finalists Itxako and Larvik, and also 'powerhouse' Győri Audi ETO in their Main Round Group.

So, their chances look good, even though in their opener the Ljubljana based team clearly lost its home match against Oltchim Vâlcea.

Goalkeeper Jelena Grubišić has given classy performances this season, and she also performed well against the Romanian champions. In this interview with ehfCL.com the 24-year-old analyzes her side´s match of last weekend, looks at their next opponent, and tells us why education and studies are as important to her as handball.

ehfCL.com: Prior to the match against Oltchim you faced several injury problems in the team. Were those missing players the key factor for your loss against the Romanian champions?

Jelena Grubišić: Indeed some of my team-mates had not trained with the team for a while and this was a huge blow as they had played significant roles in the group phase of the EHF Champions League. One of them, Liudmila Bodnieva, decided that she wanted to play last weekend even though she hasn´t had more than two training sessions with us.

Obviously we missed the injured players a lot, but I wouldn´t say it was the main reason for our defeat. It was more our poor defensive work. Our defence just didn´t look stable during the match.

ehfCL.com: Has the team analyzed Saturday’s match with the coaching staff? What was decisive in your opinion?

Jelena Grubišić: We have analyzed the game and agreed that our defensive game was the biggest problem. We were too passive and didn’t act aggressively enough. We have to improve on this, and also on all other aspects of the game for the next matches.

ehfCL.com: In the next round you´ll meet Budućnost, the Montenegrin champions that you had last year in the same Main Round group. Back then you lost twice, so what tactics will you need to use now to beat them?

Jelena Grubišić: Budućnost have a fantastic team, and they are, more or less, the whole Montenegrin National Team. They´re playing really well, especially on home turf. Furthermore they are one of the hottest candidates for winning the EHF Champions League title.

I think we shall focus more on ourselves, our game, and we have to improve on everything that was not working in the Main Round opener.

If we do that and give maximum effort, then we don´t need to be afraid of anyone.

ehfCL.com: With Tone Tiselj as head coach you´ve had the toughest-ever preparation at Krim in the summer. How is work going on with him in the second part of the year, especially compared to your former coach Marta Bon?

Jelena Grubišić: The preparations are the hardest part of the whole season and we are all used to that. We trained hard and were ready at the beginning of the season. Just like back then, we´re still training hard and preparing well for the Main Round.

Every coach has his or her own style, different training methods and tactics, so we just have to adjust to each of them. From all of them you can learn a lot and see something new.

ehfCL.com: It´s your third season in Ljubljana now. Your contract will expire after this season. What are your plans for the future?

Jelena Grubišić: This is my third season and I´m very pleased. We are a young team with big ambitions. I don´t know yet about the future, but I enjoy life here and the chances are good that I´ll stay, but nothing is decided yet, so we´ll have to wait and see...

ehfCL.com: Besides handball, you´re a student at the Economics University. How important are studies for you and have you any personal plans after your handball career?

Jelena Grubišić: I´ve got one more exam left for my diploma and after that I aim to go on with the Master´s degree. I certainly hope I´ll do so soon. Education and study is very important to me.

I don´t have any plans yet for the time after active handball. I want to finish my studies and concentrate only on the sport, and hope to continue playing for a long while.