13 teams hope for knockout berth as men's top flight resumes
After an exciting EHF EURO break, the Machineseeker EHF Champions League will resume this week, and there is a lot at stake. In group B, Barça and Magdeburg have already secured their play-offs ticket, while all the other six teams can still hope to make it past the group phase.
This match should be a handball party in our city. One of the best teams is coming, with the best handball players, and we couldn't have wished for a better timing. They come after the successes at the European Championship and Nikola Karabatic arrives in the last playing season and I am especially glad about that. The Champions League is getting stronger every year, but PSG are certainly one of the favourites.
We are Industria Kielce and as long as we have six players on the pitch and a goalkeeper, we will always fight for victory. We respect Kiel, but we also have our own advantages and each of our players can play at the highest level and we will show it tomorrow.
It's been ages since we were able to win in Kielce. I was still a player myself... Nevertheless, our mission must be to take the big points. But we're certainly not the favourites. That's why we don't need to be afraid of the challenge, because we can only surprise in Kielce.
It is always fun to play against one of my previous clubs with former teammates and good friends. After a game on our terms in Zagreb, we made some stupid mistakes at the end and he match ended with a draw. That cannot happen again if we want to stay in the top two of the group.
This will be a very exciting match! We really need the points, but the away game against Szeged will be something different than at home. In any case, we take a lot of confidence with us after our victory last time.
After such a long break and with the players separated, we have now had a week of normal training. Most of the team, specially those who have competed in the EHF EURO until the end, are in good shape. We have to maintain this shape. This match is very important for us, to try to finish in the first two places. GOG play handball very well, they beat Veszprém and we have to do things very well to win.
We have four matches left to play in EHF Champions League. The first one is away against Montpellier. We are going to France with nothing to lose, they have a really good team. It will be a tough match in front of the home fans. But this is another opportunity to gain important experiences for this young team.
This match is the type of match that we like to play. Against one of the best teams in the world, in the best club competition in handball. FC Porto has shown in the past that big results can be made. We need to be focused from the beginning, and believe in our game plan.
Plock are playing a great season and they are the leaders of the Polish league for a reason. In recent years, the games against Wisla have always been very close and I've heard that a lot of fans from Poland will be coming to the GETEC Arena again. I'm looking forward to a great game.
