DAY REVIEW: Lions and Foxes with perfect base for quarter-finals
Can all three German sides manage to proceed to the quarter-finals? After the first leg of the play-offs, the trio seems to be on a common way to the next stage. Defending champions Füchse Berlin and Rhein-Neckar Löwen took crucial away victories at Schaffhausen and Nasice, while the “warriors” from Hannover-Burgdorf ended their series of defeats against Sävehof. Fourth victorious side were Romanian champions Dinamo Bucuresti, who take a three-goal cushion to Denmark next week.
I want to say thanks to all the fans who came today and made this beautiful atmosphere, it was really amazing how they supported us. I am proud of my team, I am proud for the win.
It was amazing to play here today. I really liked that my team had the power to come closer in the game, form minus eight to minus three. It was really a good second half from us. Unfortunately, we lost, but I am sure that home we will have a good chance.
It was a very good game for the spectators, high speed and a lot of variety. The injury of Ariel Pietrasik unsettled us. Next week we have to improve some parts of our game. We have to show our best handball. Even if our chance is very small, we want to use it.
It is always difficult to play here in Schaffhausen with this great atmosphere. We are very happy with this victory with plus four goals.
After so many failures in tonight's game, it is difficult to win against any team, let alone tonight's opponents - they were in focus for 60 minutes, they played in the strongest line-up for 60 minutes. They're a great team and when we think they don't have a solution, there is an individual who will score a goal. I am satisfied with our game in defence, but not in attack.
This was a great game, especially in defence, I would say that we started the game nervously, but we played a great offence. We started the second part very well and managed to control the match until the end. This is only the first half and we have to be careful in the second game.
Of course it was a very intense game. We got into the game better when we were more focused in attack and defence. Our start to the second half wasn't good. But the team stayed positive and in the end got four important goals ahead, which will help us in the second leg.
It was a tough game. We're coming off a very short week and had to play against a Bundesliga team today. I am very proud of the performance of my boys, who have shown that they can play for clubs like this in the future.
Play-off round, leg 1 action
