Handball Bundesliga: As before PEP: Melsungen with Tiki-Taka coach on a title course

The MT Melsungen played firmly at the head of the handball Bundesliga and seems more close to the first title in club history. Since October, the competition has been in vain for a slump from the league leader. With a victory in the top game this Saturday (7:00 p.m./Dyn) against the SG Flensburg-Handewitt traded as the hottest title candidate before the season, the Hesse can confirm their status as a new Bundesliga power.

The immediate pursuers from Hanover, Berlin or Kiel have not yet left Melsungen, which is why sports director Michael Allendorf brakes expectations. “We concentrate on ourselves, continue to do our job and do not let ourselves be disturbed, even if title speculations become louder from the outside,” he told the German Press Agency.

However, the youngest duels with Flensburg illustrate the sporting upswing. Both teams faced each other over 40 times. The MT celebrated three of their only four victories in the previous year alone. As a reminder: In 2021, the Hesse lost to 16 goals in the Bundesliga, in 2023 it was 12th. In the end of November, the MT clearly won 33:24 and is currently in the table six points ahead of the rival.

Trainer as a success factor

Coach Robert García Parrondo is one of the driving forces behind Melsungen’s climb. Since taking office in 2021, the 45-year-old from a solid Bundesliga club has formed a top-class top team. Under his leadership, talents matured into top performers, newcomers such as Aaron Mensing integrated seamlessly into the team structure.

He learned early on to always do his best, Parrondo reported. “I am obsessive and perfectionist in terms of handball. This is an advantage for my job. In my free time I still have to learn to hide handball. But that’s not that easy. Handball is not just my job. He is my life,” said the Spaniard.

Tiki-Taka on the handball field

Even with his compatriots Pep Guardiola or Xabi Alonso, the native Madrilene is now compared. Just like the football greats, he has a clear game philosophy, is considered a tactic guru and attaches great importance to the development of young players. Melsungen’s quick short pass game is reminiscent of Guardiolas Tiki-Taka.

“Pep Guardiola has completely changed the way to play football. And Xabi Alonso impressively shows in Leverkusen that he is a great coach. So if I am compared with these two, I say ‘thank you’. But I’m far from you,” said Parrondo modestly.

Mental training for more consistency

Melsungen had struggled with the discrepancy between financial possibilities and sporting success for years. Although the association has one of the largest budget in the handball Bundesliga through the support of the pharmaceutical company B. Braun, the big breakthrough failed to do. Instead of success, there was a lot of ridicule from the competition.

Now the critics have been silent, because the expected slump after the jump to the top of the table in October failed. “We had this on the screen and therefore brought mental coach on board. Now we have come much better from the winter break. Thanks to the mental coach, the MT is also more solid and constant,” reported Allendorf.

National team captain soon in Melsungen

Melsungen wants to establish itself nationally and at European level as a top team. The commitment of national team captain Johannes Golla, who returns to his training association from the next season, underlines the high ambitions of the Hesse. “I plan to do a lot with the MT,” said Golla in front of the duel with his former and future club. He is still under contract in Flensburg.