THW Kiel hopes for the fifth triumph in the Champions League. In order to achieve the goal, the weakened German record champions have to do a feat of strength.
For the showdown for Europe’s handball crown, Filip Jicha didn’t have to motivate his protégés at the end of a long season.
“The players know that next week they will be lying on the beach with some drink. Of course that inspires. And they know that they can make a sporting fairy tale come true and write history, »said the coach of THW Kiel before the Final4 in the Champions League this weekend in the Cologne handball temple, which was sold out with 20,000 fans for the first time in three years.
Sagosen and Pekeler are absent
Even without superstar Sander Sagosen and defender Hendrik Pekeler, who are out for a long time due to serious injuries, the German record champions want to triumph in the premier class for the fifth time after 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2020. “The boys are hot and will do everything,” Jicha announced before the semi-finals on Saturday (6 p.m. / DAZN and servustv.com) against defending champion and record winner FC Barcelona and added combatively: “I’m obsessed with victories. We try to make the impossible possible.”
In the new edition of the victorious final of 2020, which took place in front of empty ranks due to the corona pandemic, THW is only an outsider. “They have a world-class team. If we want to beat Barça on Saturday we need a small sporting sensation. We know that,” stressed Jicha on Friday.
Jicha: “Failures make us unpredictable”
Nevertheless, the 40-year-old does not see his team without a chance, even if Sagosen and Pekeler are sorely missed. “It also makes us a little unpredictable. You cannot compensate for their loss over four or five months. But that’s possible on a weekend. We definitely have nothing to lose, »said Jicha and set the route: «We mustn’t let Barcelona get rolling.»
The anticipation of the event is huge among the players. “When we won the title in 2020, the spectators weren’t there. That’s why we’re happy that the hall will be full,” said circle runner Patrick Wiencek and predicted: “It will be a completely different tournament.”
The long mammoth season is pushed aside. “When you come onto the field and see the 20,000 spectators, you want to give everything,” said THW captain Domagoj Duvnjak. The DHB Cup winner, who had to cede the championship title to SC Magdeburg this year, wants to go to the final with all his might. “I’m not in the mood to play for third place. We are ready and have no pressure, »said Duvnjak.
National goalkeeper Wolff wants a duel with Kiel
Should the THW defeat the ten-time record winner, the winner of the first semi-final duel between the Hungarian top club Telekom Veszprem and the Polish champion Vive Kielce with national goalkeeper Andreas Wolff is waiting on Sunday. The 31-year-old, who was between the posts in Kiel from 2016 to 2019, hopes to see his former club again. “It would be a dream to play the final against THW,” said Wolff. “I still have friends there and would of course not begrudge them a place in the final. I keep my fingers crossed for THW – but of course not so much that they defeat me in a possible final.”
For the DHB keeper it is the first appearance at the sold-out final tournament in the cathedral city. “It is therefore difficult to imagine what to expect. I’m a bit nervous but also excited to finally have the chance to be part of the biggest handball club event in the world. I can hardly wait for it to start, »emphasized Wolff. This also applies to his ex-colleagues from Kiel.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
