THW Kiel cannot crown itself as the Champions League winner. In the semifinals, FC Barcelona proves to be too strong. At the end there is at least one consolation prize and praise from the coach.
Even without the coveted trophy in their hands, the handball players of THW Kiel were celebrated by their fans like winners. However, the applause could hardly ease the pain of the German record champions over the unsuccessful hunt for the fifth Champions League triumph.
“It hurts incredibly. We had a big dream », said THW trainer Filip Jicha after the 30:34 (18:19) in the semifinals against the again victorious record winner FC Barcelona. And captain Domagoj Duvnjak admitted: “We are disappointed and sad.”
Finally, the consolation prize
After all, there was a consolation prize at the end of the Final4 in Cologne, where Barça triumphed thanks to a 5:3 in a penalty throw in the dramatic final against Vive Kielce for national goalkeeper Andreas Wolff as in the previous year. In the match for 3rd place on Sunday, the Kielers got the upper hand against Hungary’s top club Telekom Veszprem 3:1, also in a seven-meter throw, and said goodbye to the summer break with a sense of achievement. After 60 minutes it was 34:34 (14:18). “We were dead after 15 minutes, we were just so tired. But then the boys showed energy and confidence, »said Jicha.
In the nerve duel at the end of a handball thriller, THW goalkeeper Niklas Landin advanced to the match winner with two saved throws. For the cup winner of 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2020 there was at least a little happy ending at the end of a long and exhausting season, which made for cheers. “Now we are all happy that we will soon be sitting on the beach in vacation mode,” said Jicha.
The day before, the THW trainer had already praised the morale of his protégés after the defeat against Barcelona. “I’m extremely proud of my team, who really left everything on the plate that was still in their legs and heads,” said the Czech, adding: “I’m sorry for the boys that they couldn’t reward themselves . They fought incredibly.”
«Barcelona was clearly better»
However, in the duel with the Spanish series champion in front of 19,750 fans in Cologne, that was not enough to create the sporting sensation Jicha was hoping for. “If you want to win against Barça, you have to show a perfect performance. We didn’t manage to do that today because we missed a few chances at the beginning of the second half,” complained the 40-year-old, who won the most important club trophy as a player with both THW and Barça.
The absence of superstar Sander Sagosen and defense chief Hendrik Pekeler ultimately proved to be too big a mortgage. “I don’t want to look for excuses, but of course we missed them,” said Duvnjak. The Croatian left no doubt about the Catalans’ deserved success: “You have to say clearly that Barcelona were better.”
Mainly because some of Kiel’s trump cards didn’t stand out this time. In the offensive, Sweden’s European champion Niclas Ekberg in particular sinned. “I’m incredibly disappointed, especially about myself, because today I missed my chances,” said the right winger self-critically.
“We can be satisfied”
The disadvantage in the goalkeeper position weighed even more heavily. Landin, actually a safe bet between the THW posts, was not a factor at all. The Danish world champion clearly lost out in a duel with his counterpart Gonzalo Perez de Vargas and then admitted: “Unfortunately, I didn’t get the day I would have liked to have.” Only six saves were not enough to stop the strong offensive of the star ensemble from Barcelona.
So it did not come to the culmination of a season in which the Kiel team at least did not remain untitled thanks to the DHB Cup victory. As runner-up behind the sovereign champion SC Magdeburg, THW is also in the premier class in the 2022/23 season and can then make another attempt at Europe’s handball throne. “We have always stood together,” Landin praised the team spirit, and Duvnjak summed up: “We can be satisfied.”
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.
