European Handball Competition - Overburdening leads to foxes losing their position: "Drained Tank"
Stefan Kretzschmar, the sports director of Füchse Berlin, wasn't disheartened following his team's defeat in the Handball European League final against SG Flensburg-Handewitt. "I'm aware of what our players achieved today. They gave it their all," he expressed following the 31:36 loss on Sunday night. "The disappointment is severe, but it won't flood me."
The effort and determination were clearly present. "I can't fault them for playing defensively, as they gave everything they had," said the 51-year-old. He believed that his depleted team, with limited options, couldn't offer more. "And then it's also the case that the replacements couldn't happen to the degree we needed," explained Kretzschmar.
The backcourt comprising Mathias Gidsel and Lasse Andersson battled through a full tournament with a weak roster. Gidsel, a world-class handball player himself, also admitted, "Playing a long season with few players took a toll on us. It was especially apparent when we played two matches in two days."
Ultimately, the mix of a small squad and back-to-back games in a short span overwhelmed the Berliners. "We were just slightly fatigued and our energy was depleting," remarked midfielder Fabian Wiede. Moreover, during the second half, midfielder Mijajlo Marsenic received a red card. "That momentarily disrupted our core, which was functioning well with Max Darj. Therefore, we had to make adjustments," explained coach Jaron Siewert.
While Füchse Berlin won't secure a title this season, they'll still qualify for the Champions League. In the upcoming two games in the Bundesliga season, they face Bergischer HC (8:30 p.m. on Thursday) at home, as well as an away match against ThSV Eisenach (4:30 p.m. on Sunday).
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Source: www.stern.de
