In the world of handball, athletes exhibit extraordinary skills as they score goals against each other during games. - In the Champions League, Kiel's handball players display a humble yet hungry attitude.
Confidently and with humility, the handball powerhouse THW Kiel is gearing up for the Champions League Finals this weekend. According to THW business manager Viktor Szilagyi, who spoke at a press conference at the training facility in Kiel on Tuesday, "The desire for the win is immense. No one is going to Cologne just for fun." However, Szilagyi also noted, "We're not the favorites either."
The coach, Filip Jicha, weighed in on the question of whether his team is an underdog, replying with a straightforward, "Yes." Jicha is confident enough to emphasize his team's strengths but believes that "every player has to push past their limits."
The North Germans will take on FC Barcelona in the semifinals in Cologne on Saturday at 6 pm (Dyn and DAZN). The first spot in the finals will be determined by German champion and defending champion SC Magdeburg and Danish champion Aalborg HB - both matches will occur an hour and a half prior to the THW-Barcelona game. For the Kiel squad, it's their ninth appearance in the Final Four, and they've won the top class in 2007, 2010, 2012, and 2020.
In the Bundesliga season, THW finished in fourth place, a somewhat disappointing performance. Their standing against the other three final round teams doesn't look promising either. In the current season, the last five games against Barcelona resulted in a draw, the Champions League group stage against Aalborg had only one point difference, and both Bundesliga games against Magdeburg were lost.
To beat Barcelona in the semifinals, "we need courage, we have to take risks, and be determined," urged Jicha. A standard performance wouldn't be enough against the Catalans - then, "Dika Mem and Co. would simply trounce us," said the 42-year-old who mentioned the French backcourt player as one of the main players on Barcelona's team.
If it's a tied score after the first half, Jicha believes, "There's still a chance," he continued, "It's the same if there's a close lead or a deficit." Club boss Szilagyi added, "Barcelona doesn't have experience with close games. We need to get inside their heads."
Right-winger Niclas Ekberg will play his last two games for Kiel in Cologne: "I'm so glad I have the opportunity to end with a big achievement here." The Swede, who has been with the team for 12 years, is on his way back to his homeland.
The left-hander has a lot of respect for Barcelona: "They have a deep squad filled with top-tier players." However, Ecberg knows that "the Final Four is a completely different game. What happened before is irrelevant."
In the end, a quote by Jicha sums it up: "Fear, regret, and insecurity have no place in the Final Four. Only determination and courage can guide you through it."
