Oftedal feels "awesome" about FINAL4 debut

She is back just in time for the big event.

Stine Bredal Oftedal has been sidelined for a great part of the spring in her first season with Györi Audi ETO KC. An ankle injury kept her out, but she returned to duty in the second leg of the Women’s EHF Champions League Quarter-final against Buducnost last month.

Now she feels completely fit for her first Women’s EHF FINAL4.

“Yes, I feel that I am really back where I should be. It took a bit longer than I expected, but now the ankle is completely fine again,” says Stine Oftedal, who is in her first Champions League season after joining Györ from Issy Paris Hand last summer.

“Finally playing the FINAL4 means a lot to me. It is the greatest event of all at club level to us handball players, and it feels just awesome to be in the FINAL4 in my first Champions League season ever,” she says.

“I am fortunate to have many teammates with a lot of experience from this kind of games, and that makes me feel secure.”

"Losing a star player like Nora Mørk would affect any team"

The 26-year-old Norwegian international and European champion is very pleased with her first season in Györ.

“I could not be more content. Apart from the fact that we have been struggling with injuries in the team throughout the season, things have been exactly as I was hoping for,” she says. “Joining the team has been easy, and it did not take long for me to be integrated in the team.”

The injury worries for the title holders, however, have not been over yet as Györ will miss two key players in Budapest this weekend. Nora Mørk and Zsuzsanna Tomori are both out with long-term injuries, and Oftedal admits that Mørk is particularly hard to replace.

“Losing a star player like Nora Mørk would affect any team severely, but of course, it is even sadder for Nora than for anyone else,” says Oftedal, who believes that Györ have been doing well to deal with the various injury setbacks and that the team have shown great strength.

“To me personally, however, it has been particularly bad to lose Nora, and I would like to play with her all the time,” says Oftedal, adding that the departure of coach Ambros Martín, who joins Rostov-Don, also affects her.

“I find it sad that Ambros is leaving so soon after I have arrived,” she says. “During this first year, I feel that I have learned a lot from him, and he is a fantastic coach. However, I am sure things will be great next season too, not least with the new players who will be joining us.”

Oftedal will be accompanied by two more teammates from the Norwegian national team as backcourt player Veronica Kristiansen and line player Kari Brattset will join Györ along with French national team goalkeeper Amandine Leynaud.

"It will be extremely tough to go all the way"

For now, Oftedal can’t wait to play her first EHF FINAL4. Györ will face 2016 champions CSM Bucuresti in the first semi-final on Saturday at 15:15 hrs (live on ehfTV.com), followed by Rostov-Don taking on HC Vardar in the other semi-final at 18:00 hrs (live on ehfTV.com).

“Our chances are good, but then again, all four teams have a good chance. There is no doubt that it will be extremely tough to go all the way, but that is the way it should be,” says Oftedal, adding that the teams’ form of the day will be decisive.

“Also, which team is tactically best prepared? If you get to the final, anything can happen,” she says. “No matter what, it will be extremely exciting, and I am looking so much forward to being part of it all.”