“The hardest part is not to reach the top but to stay there.” French club Les Neptunes de Nantes experienced that mantra the tough way last season. After winning the first ever EHF Finals Women in 2021, the club went through a tough season in 2021/22.

A change of coach in December, with Helle Thomsen taking over, did not resolve every problem, and the French side did not progress from the group phase. But the 2021 champions are back with humility and a couple of new faces, and the aim of once again reaching the knock-out phase.