Vipers Kristiansand – FTC Rail Cargo 28:24 (14:13)
Anna Vyakhireva is an Olympic champion and MVP and now she’s a Champions League winner and Remaining 4 MVP as properly. After the ultimate match in Budapest she talked to stregspiller.com.
Anna, congratulations. Please inform us what sort of journey, what sort of weekend, what sort of recreation it has been for you?
AV: Nicely, what do you wish to know? I had a dream. This dream got here true right now. We started the work roughly eleven months in the past. And, now we’re right here. We’re holding this trophy – collectively we had this aim and we labored laborious for it. I don’t suppose I can say that we constructed a very good crew as a result of it was a fantastic crew earlier than. However, I assume the brand new gamers introduced some contemporary air and I believe we regarded actually good on the courtroom. We actually have our personal chemistry and our personal circulate and I simply love this power that now we have on the pitch. I hope we are going to hold it so long as attainable.
Clearly you’re again at your finest stage…
AV: I may be higher. However, yeah, it feels nice. It’s good. These two days had been sufficient – I really like handball. I simply adore it and I’m so grateful to be on the courtroom and play. And, if we win, it’s a bonus.
You arrived in Norway below particular circumstances. What do you consider it now?
AV: Final summer time, I simply made the precise alternative and I believe the proof is right here and now – the medal. I got here right here to win this trophy and it’s sick that it labored out within the first season. However, I consider this crew deserves it. I actually love them and I believe we did an enormous, enormous job to get right here. Now, we’re on prime and I’m actually, actually proud.
What has Vipers finished for you and your profession?
AV: You’ll be able to say they gave me this medal. Aside from this, they’ve been actually form to me all 12 months. I simply love this membership. I really like town and I really like the environment, the ladies and the employees. I believe everyone seems to be simply attempting their finest.
If you got here to Vipers, it was a courageous determination since you left your own home nation for the primary time in your life for an extended interval. What was your expectation while you arrived in Kristiansand? Had been you scared”
AV: Yeah, I believe I might say that I used to be afraid, however not about enjoying handball. It was my first time dwelling overseas – that’s all. Possibly slightly bit pressured. However, they’re so hospitable they usually did every thing for me to really feel like dwelling. Truly, I do now. I’m very grateful for all of it.
Is it your best option you will have ever made?
AV: Now, I can say ‘sure’. I’m happy with myself that I made this determination.
Will you go to mattress tonight?
AV: Hopefully not, however we are going to see. My assets aren’t limitless, so we’ll see.
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Jana Knedlikova, the Czech right-wing gained the Champions League for a sixth time in a row. Here’s what she needed to say after the ultimate match towards FTC Rail Cargo.
Jana, initially, congratulations. I’ve to ask a distinct query beginning this interview. I simply noticed the top of the press convention – your coach was not smiling. What the hell is occurring?
JK: Sure, it’s the way in which he’s. I believe he’s very pleased inside, however he doesn’t present his feelings a lot.
You confirmed your feelings on the courtroom and afterwards throughout the celebrations. You’re so used to profitable, however is it nonetheless one thing particular?
JK: Sure, completely. Yearly is particular. Behind each season and behind each medal is a distinct cause. So, it’s particular, very particular. It’s a dream of each handball participant to succeed in this remaining stage and I nonetheless can’t consider that it’s six occasions already. I nonetheless really feel like I’m telling my teammates to punch me or one thing, so I may be certain I’m not dreaming.
Your crew stayed so calm, though the primary half was a really shut one. However, you reversed course within the second half…
JK: Sure, that was our aim. And I’m actually pleased that we had been in a position to play the way in which we wished to. And I believe perhaps we appear calm, nevertheless it’s extra focus as a result of now we have simply these kind of gamers who hold it extra inside and never wanting ahead.
Is it a matter of expertise ultimately? The opposite three groups in Budapest had a whole lot of good gamers on their roster as properly…
JK: In fact, now we have a whole lot of expertise, however this weekend was a really particular one. You noticed that something can occur on the Final4. It doesn’t matter what occurred throughout the season, how good or dangerous a crew performed. Right here it solely will depend on two days. And yeah, I believe we had extra energy right now. And once we can use it, we’re unstoppable from all positions.
The place will you celebration tonight and when will you get up tomorrow?
JK: Truly, I don’t know the place we’ll be partying, however the bus will take me there and I’m not planning to go sleep.
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Andrea Lekic has seen all of it and nearly gained all of it, nevertheless it was her first journey to the Champions League remaining since 2018. With all of the feelings flowing, she nonetheless discovered time to research the sport and the FTC’s 2022/23 season.
What goes by way of your thoughts proper now after dropping the ultimate match?
AL: I’m unhappy. I believe everybody on my crew is feeling the identical. When taking a distinct view, now we have to be thankful for this season. We performed some actually stunning matches this 12 months. In any case, it’s a historic season for our membership. I believe that no person would wager on us at first of the season that we are going to be right here on the ultimate day. We actually ought to give us some credit score for such a tremendous season. In fact, it’s disappointing while you lose the ultimate, however had been shut on the break. Thereafter Lunde was excellent and this made an actual distinction.
Was this the utmost FTC may do right now?!?
AL: I don’t know. I do know that I gave every thing. For me that’s most necessary. If you go to mattress and look within the mirror ans say you gave all of it. I did. I gave all of it. All the things I had left, I laid on the ground on this Remaining 4. Clearly, we’ll be interested by this and learn how to construct up the crew once more. As a crew and as a membership we will study rather a lot from this.
If you look again to the EHF Champions League match towards Bietigheim within the fall, while you misplaced by 20 targets and now, the journey nearly appears to be like like a miracle?
AL: It’s type of a miracle, but from one other perspective the loss again then was a really painful defeat. Trying again and the place we’re right now, it triggers an enormous feeling – a way of accomplishment I’m actually grateful for.
I assume you’re very happy together with your first season in Budapest?
AL: How couldn’t I? On prime of all of it, enjoying in entrance of such a crowd, it’s only a privilege.
Gyor AUDI ETO – Staff Esbjerg 28:27 (16:9)
After securing the bronze medal on the Remaining 4 in Budapest, Stine Oftedal thinks that Gyor may have finished higher. Try what she needed to say after the sport towards Esbjerg.
To start with, congratulations for profitable the bronze medal. It was a tricky and shut recreation ultimately after what regarded like a straightforward first half. Why?
SO: Truly that’s what I’m asking myself as properly. I’m not likely certain what occurred. I believe we performed an excellent first half. We had a whole lot of saves and we used our pace. I additionally
suppose that Esbjerg stepped it up (within the second half ed.) as a result of they didn’t play as much as their potential. That claims rather a lot as properly.
So, every crew owned one half. Nonetheless, I want that we had been be slightly bit sharper the way in which we shot a
few occasions and never allow them to get so shut. The ultimate outcome exhibits the form of high quality and energy
of each groups.
Possibly this recreation right now sums up your season to some extent as you couldn’t dwell as much as your potential?
SO: Possibly, I agree. However, on the identical time, it’s fairly an accomplishment to be within the Remaining 4 12 months after 12 months. Contemplating the standard and breadth we at the moment have in girls’s handball, I believe that yearly it will get more durable and more durable to develop into champions. In fact, we wished extra. But, there are a bunch of different good groups as properly.
Normally are expectations too excessive?
SO: Arduous to say, as a result of we additionally set formidable targets. For me, it’s a mixture. Generally I really feel that it’s simple to overlook that the extent of the opposite groups is excepetional as ell.
Are you able to be happy together with your season?
SO: Glad? Sure. Fully pleased? No. In fact, there’s one thing lacking while you don’t attain what you dream of. Nonetheless, I believe making it to the Remaining 4, get a medal and to win the Hungarian league, is a suitable season.
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Virtually blowing an enormous half-time lead towards Esbjerg within the bronze medal match, Ana Gros got here to the rescue for Gyor throughout crunch time. Here’s what the Slovenian needed to say after the sport within the Blended Zone.
Congratulations for profitable the bronze medal. I noticed you celebrating after the ultimate whistle regardless of lacking the ultimate match of the competitors?
AG: In fact, it’s nonetheless a medal, although all of us wished extra. It’s laborious to get previous. All of the groups are getting higher and higher and it’s not a on condition that one crew will win ultimately. There have been so many surprises throughout the season – I believe any medal is essential for us and, in fact, to finish the season with a win. This was most necessary.
Within the first half you cruised by way of the sport. It was fairly spectacular. Sandra Toft had a whole lot of saves and collectively you additionally appeared a bit extra relaxed?
AG: Within the locker room, we mentioned we wish to get pleasure from this recreation because it’s the final one. We owe it to ourselves, to all people leaving the membership, gamers, coaches, … so yeah, we simply wished to get pleasure from it. After they got here again within the second half, we started to stumble a bit. Anyway, I believe we had sufficient confidence and dealt with it properly all the way in which to the top of the sport.
What modified within the second half?
AG: I believe our protection was inferior to within the first half. We conceded some simple targets and we allow them to shoot a bit an excessive amount of. In fact, they had been additionally extra environment friendly and within the first half they had been lacking lots of their pictures. I believe that made the distinction. However, as I mentioned, I’m pleased that we dealt with it properly in the direction of the top. This victory was crucial to us.
How would you sum up the 2022/23 season? You gained the Hungarian League, misplaced the Cup remaining towards FTC and also you gained the bronze medal right here. Are you happy?
AG: It might probably at all times be extra, however I can say we’re not disenchanted. In fact, it’s a little bit of a bitter feeling, as a result of we all know we’re succesful to do extra. However, it’s removed from being an unsuccessful season. We are able to nonetheless be happy with what we achieved. As I mentioned earlier than, today handball is altering a lot, it’s so quick that actually nobody is assured to win all of it. We may be proud. We gained two medals. That’s additionally a very good achievement.
Are you content you could go on holidays now?
AG: I can not clarify how a lot. I can communicate for me and all the opposite gamers as properly. It’s an enormous achievement to finish the season with out accidents, as properly. That’s one thing that many appear to overlook about. However, it’s crucial as properly. I’m simply very grateful that all of us completed this season in good well being.
