Winner of this double-header will grab the top spot, Andersson predicts

He knows how to decide matches and he knows how it feels to be the hero. But despite his great performances in the last years SG Flensburg-Handewitt goalkeeper Mattias Andersson is still absolutely humble.

Before the first match of the double-header against HSV Hamburg in the Group Phase the Swedish former EHF Champions League winner (with THW Kiel) talks about his extra-ordinary level he displayed last Sunday by saving 23 shots in the league match against the defending winners of the VELUX EHF Champions League.

However Andersson does not dare to make a prediction for the ehfTV.com Match of the Week in the Hamburg's  O2 World (Saturday, 14:45 hrs. local time, with English live commentary by Tom O’Brannagain.

ehfCL.com: After your stellar performance in the Bundesliga match against Hamburg last Sunday – will you become the match winner again on international court?

Mattias Andersson: You cannot plan to become a match winner, this is impossible. My plan – as usual – is to help my team as much as possible. We played very focused and stable in the previous matches, which make things easier for a goalkeeper. In generally, currently I fit perfectly with the defence.

ehfCL.com: Some say about you that “Mattias Andersson is like wine – the older, the better”. Do you agree?

Mattias Andersson: I have to agree that my performances and my development in the last year was really good, which makes me really happy. It is always my will to improve regardless my age. But I did not change my training methods or anything else compared to some years ago.

But experience – coming alongside the age – helps you to analyse situations in a correct way and to know what to do. Another key is the trust I receive from my coach and my teammates and that I play in a top team with a top defence.

ehfCL.com: Was the final result of the Sunday’s match (31:29 for Flensburg) already an indicator for what will come in the double-header of the VELUX EHF Champions League?

Mattias Andersson: No, those matches are completely new and start at zero. We face each other so often, we know each other so well, and we all know that every duel of Flensburg vs. Hamburg is always on the edge and that little things decide which team will be victorious. Last season we met seven times in three competitions with constantly changing winners.

ehfCL.com: Is there a favourite in those encounters?
Mattias Andersson: No, those matches are the classical matches with a 50:50 percentage to win or to lose.

ehfCL.com: You mentioned those seven duels of the previous season. Two of them were in the quarter-finals of the VELUX EHF Champions League. Hamburg highly close took the aggregate victory and managed to qualify for the VELUX EHF FINAL4. Is it one of your key goals this season to make it all the way to Cologne after failing so closely?

Mattias Andersson: Everybody knows how steep the way and how winding the road is in handball to win a title or to qualify for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 or even the German Cup final tournament. So you cannot name a goal by ‘reaching the VELUX EHF FINAL4’ before a season.

We want to improve, but there are so many factors you cannot influence like injuries, how national team players return from the EHF EURO in Denmark or how lucky you are in draws. Those things are decisive, but you cannot plan.

ehfCL.com: How do you and your teammates prepare for an opponent you know everything about from all those previous duels?

Mattias Andersson: Personally, I do not care about how often we have faced an opponent before. I have my own way of preparing which is equal for all matches. And our coach Ljubomir Vranjes does the same. There are so many things you can improve – so we will prepare with full focus and concentration.

ehfCL.com: Will those double-headers Flensburg vs. Hamburg already decide which team will finally win the group?

Mattias Andersson: I think so. Though we still have a tough away match at Aalborg ahead I believe that the aggregate winner of those two German duels will bring the decision. So we will do everything to win both games, as it is impossible in handball to go for a draw.

Further information

Follow the Round 5 Match of the Week live on ehfTV.com on Saturday at 14:45 hrs local time