TruckScout24 EHF FINAL4 2026 flash quotes: Friday 12 June
COLOGNE — comments from players and coaches at the media calls on Friday, ahead of the Machineseeker EHF Champions League 2025/26 semi-finals at the TruckScout24 EHF FINAL4 2026 on Saturday.
Barça
Carlos Ortega (ESP) — head coach
On being qualified to the TruckScout24 EHF FINAL4:
“We had a great season. We only lost one game, against Magdeburg, so it feels kind of logical to be here. But we worked a lot. There were a lot of changes last summer and we needed to build some more combinations among us to make things work. I am really happy that we were able to qualify, but of course, we are aiming for now.”
On how different this EHF FINAL4 could be compared to the others:
“I don’t think it is too much. All the best teams are here. Every team will have a chance to win. I don’t think we have less or more chances this season to win compared to when we won two years ago, or last season. It’s still very exciting to be in Cologne.”
On Aalborg, Barça’s opponent in the semi-final:
“They are a very dangerous team — a team that is able to score a lot of goals and play really fast. They also have nice depth on the bench, with a lot of different options. But I am confident. I know we have prepared well for that game. Everybody is really motivated to win the Champions League again.”
Dika Mem (FRA) — right back
On the motivation coming back to the TruckScout24 EHF FINAL4:
“It is huge. Every player wants to be here and play these games, so there is no need for anyone to give us a boost. This event is a real party for everyone, but it is also the most important weekend of the season. The motivation is huge. This is what we have trained all season for, and now is the time to deliver.”
On the favourites this weekend:
“It is actually hard to say. I would say all teams are equal. And anyway, we have seen in the past that the tags do not mean anything at the [EHF] FINAL4. I don’t care about this, to be honest. I just want us to focus on how we play, how we are able to win tomorrow, and that’s all that matters right now.”
On whether this season’s Barça can be regarded as stronger than last year’s:
“I don’t know. We lost some players in the summer, but we also have Ludovic Fabregas back and that is a huge boost. I feel like the team is really ready to start the weekend; that we have played really well lately. Everyone saw that against Nantes in the quarter-finals. Now is the time to deliver.”
Ludovic Fabregas (FRA) — line player
On the progress Barça made during the two years he was away:
“Every player made progress, but also the club as a whole. It is an honour to be back here, among the four best teams in the world. But I feel like we are a team as strong as we were two years ago. Every team in Cologne has chances to win. Everyone still puts Barça among the favourites, so that means that we are doing a pretty great job.”
On playing against Aalborg in the semi-final:
“They are a very specific team, in the way that they have three players on the back court who are able to shoot and score from a distance. We are more used to a centre back trying [to get] the others into position, but a player like Thomas Arnoldsen can also shoot from a distance. This is definitely something that we are taking into consideration before the semi-final.”
On Barça being back at the EHF FINAL4 for the eighth year in a row:
“I don’t think people realise how tough it is to make it here — to win the games to qualify. Just because we do it every year does not mean that it’s easy. There are clubs like Paris, Kielce, Nantes or Veszprém who do not qualify, so that tells you how focused you have to be throughout the season to qualify.”
SC Magdeburg
Bennet Wiegert (GER) — head coach
On having to motivate his players before coming to the TruckScout24 EHF FINAL4:
“Honestly, I did not have to. When you start travelling to Cologne, it’s inside of you. The motivation for this event is so huge. We have won the title twice already. We know how amazing it is, and most of the players in the team were present already. We don’t need any more motivation than to remember how it was back then. We are just 100 per cent motivated.”
On playing against Füchse Berlin again after playing them in the final last season:
“This is a completely different game, a different season, different dynamics. Last season, Berlin had just won the Bundesliga. This time it’s us. Every game is different. We are two very close teams and it’s hard to invent things at this point of the competition.”
On retaining the title:
“We want to do it, of course, but the task is huge. Two years ago, we lost in the semi-final, and we will do everything to win. But honestly, that is such a task that, right now, we are only focused on the semi-final tomorrow and how to beat Berlin.”
Gísli Kristjánsson (ISL) — centre back
On making it to the TruckScout24 EHF FINAL4:
“We are super happy to be here, of course, with the best teams of the season. But now is not the time to be happy — it is the time to be focus and to be ready to fight tomorrow. I expect a strong game against one of the best teams in the world.”
On being the title holders at the TruckScout24 EHF FINAL4:
“We have been here before, and this year is going to be different, yet another time. Just because we won last year does not mean we will win next season. It is so tough already, just making it here, and now winning the title is still another level. We have the experience from two years ago, but I don’t feel like we did anything wrong then. This tournament, just like the others, will be a brand new one.”
On beating Füchse Berlin twice this season already and the impact it might have:
“I don’t think any of us think about those two games, and I am sure that the Berlin players have moved on as well. Our two teams know each other very well. We play against each other every season in the German Bundesliga, and every game is a new one. Tomorrow will be no different.”
Felix Claar (SWE) — centre back
On how he feels being back in Cologne:
“Of course, I am super happy, because every year, all the four best teams in the Champions League qualify, and we are among them again. It is great. It shows that we have done a great job and all the work we have put in has paid off. But in the meantime, the most important games of the season are ahead of us, so we have to be focused and not be too happy about qualifying.”
On keeping the motivation to perform after SC Magdeburg won the EHF Champions League:
“I only won it once, but I guess my teammates would answer the same. Once you have won the competition once, you want to win it again and again. And it’s hard, because you have to work to stay at the top. But we are still hungry for a title. We want to remain at the top.”
On playing Füchse Berlin in the semi-final:
“I only expect a tough game, a very physical one, perhaps with a lot of goals. Of course, the key will be to contain Mathias Gidsel, but it’s not only about him. This team has a lot of talent all around, and if we want to win, we will have to be at our best. There is no Gidsel plan — we are only focusing on ourselves.”
Photos © kolektiff images
