Magdeburg and Kiel are equally hurt by their failure in the semi-finals of the Champions League. Nevertheless, both teams are going into the summer break with completely different feelings.
At SC Magdeburg, the sporting pain over their failed attempt to win the European handball crown was mixed with pride. At THW Kiel, on the other hand, there was horror and helplessness over a historic disgrace.
While the dethroned defending champion from Magdeburg only missed the crowning glory of a magnificent season with three titles with the dramatic 26:28 against Aalborg HB in the semi-finals of the Final Four tournament in Cologne, the disastrous 18:30 of Kiel against FC Barcelona marked the low point of a titleless season.
Lots of work on the fjord
“That was a brutal thrashing. This defeat is very, very hard for me,” said THW coach Filip Jicha. Circle player Patrick Wiencek admitted: “To be slaughtered like that in the semi-finals hurts unbelievably. We can’t present ourselves like that. We all just feel emptiness.”
The poor performance in the past season will have consequences on the Fjord. It remains to be seen whether this will also apply to Jicha, whose contract runs until summer 2026. Kiel’s managing director Viktor Szilagyi initially avoided a discussion about the coach. “We have to draw the right conclusions. By that I don’t mean any populist decisions that one might expect in such a situation,” said Szilagyi.
Kiel only in the European League
For the first time in six years, THW will be a spectator in the premier league next season as fourth in the Bundesliga. Captain Domagoj Duvnjak therefore immediately switched back into attack mode after the defeat against Barcelona: “I think we will show that we can play handball much better.”
Szilagyi, who has a busy summer ahead of him, also hopes so. “We have to learn from our mistakes and make a lot of adjustments,” said the Austrian, adding: “Sometimes such negative experiences leave their mark and help you move forward. It’s about doing better than the competition in the future.”
Magdeburg misses fourth title
They are currently well ahead of the German record champions at the national level, especially the SCM, which won the championship and the DHB Cup in addition to the Club World Cup. However, the dream of the historic quadruple was not fulfilled.
“We played a great season. That will stay the same,” said Magdeburg’s successful coach Bennet Wiegert. At the moment of failure, however, this was only a small consolation. “The team that comes here wants to win the cup. That’s why we are extremely disappointed,” said left winger Matthias Musche, describing the feeling.
Disappointment prevails for the master
At the height of the season, the SCM failed to bring its feared fast-paced handball to the table. “We were not at our best. That hurts. We have to give this sporting pain a little space now,” said Wiegert about the bitter defeat against Aalborg.
His players were also dejected after the handball thriller without a happy ending. “I’m very disappointed and sad that we weren’t better here. They played well because they have some of the best decision-making players in the world,” said pivot Magnus Saugstrup. Teammate Gisli Kristjansson added: “We certainly wanted more this weekend, but we didn’t have any real momentum in this game.”
Nevertheless, the Magdeburg team left for the holidays with their heads held high. “We played the best season ever,” Musche stated and announced: “We will attack again from day one in the next season.”
Source: Stern
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