HSV are ready for the challenge

Igor Vori

“We have never won the Champions League before. I would like to win it before I leave HSV and go to another club.

I don’t have so many problems with Kiel. We have to play at a high level over 60 minutes and we often could not do that. At the beginning of the season, we played at a high level for 45-50 minutes but we have to be that good for 60 minutes if we want to win against THW Kiel. Every player has to give more than 100% to win the semi-final.

You can’t prepare any surprises in 3 days. I think that the goalkeepers will make a difference. We have to reduce our errors and stay concentrated.

I enjoy the time at the hotel. I saw a lot of old teammates. It is great to see them all together. Afterwards everybody concentrates on their own team.”

Hans Lindberg

“I do not care if I could be the first ever triple top scorer in handball – and the season is still not over. I was top scorer in the German Cup already, but I did not even know that someone is counting those goals. I am in lead in the top scorer’s list of German Bundesliga and VELUX EHF FINAL4, but I really do not care. If I score zero goals twice on Saturday and Sunday and Hamburg wins both matches, it is much more important for me. But to end up on Sunday by raising two trophies would be a perfect evening.”

Martin Schwalb

“The goalkeeping will be highly decisive at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 as usual. In 2011, Danijel Saric decided the final on his own for Barcelona – and I am absolutely sure that the goalkeeping will decide the event this year too. But for us it will be highly important to stop the THW attacks, so the cooperation of defence with the goalkeeper is the key. We need to put the THW attackers under pressure and additionally need to reduce the number of technical errors in attack, otherwise we get punished. Our team showed a great development in the second part of the season after we had the biggest list of injured players like I never experienced before in my coaching career. But from then on we improved. We deserve to be here in Cologne, we are proud to represent HSV at an event like this. We do not feel any pressure.“

Johannes Bitter

“This event shines over Europe!

This event has to stay in in the best arena of Europe and you find this arena here in Cologne.

The result depends on the physical and mental state and also on the confidence the players have.

I try to deliver my best performance in order to help the team.

There is still some time until the match. We arrived and had a lot of appointments and training and the tension will come after the last training.

Of course, FC Barelona and THW Kiel are favourites but we can play some handball as well and try to get to the final."