24 teams on the start line as new version of EHF Champions League begins
Not even three months after Barça lifted the trophy on the podium in the centre of the LANXESS arena court in Cologne, the EHF Champions League is starting again. This time, 24 teams will be competing in six groups of four, with the aim of qualifying for the main round.
The Champions League is amazing, and playing at home is much better. But we need to play together. The fans help us to play well, to feel comfortable in the game and to make it hell for our opponents. That’s why we need to win every game in our arena, for sure.
I think we are working in the right way. It’s important for us to maintain this, but we need to be more consistent. We have shown some consistency in the games so far, but we need to work on this and improve.
A Porto side that has missed playing in the Champions League and is determined to compete against the best. We know Veszprém are a very strong contender and that they are playing at home, but we will do everything we can to make life difficult for them and fight for every minute of the game.
We expect a completely different match from the ones we played against Melsungen last season. This is now the opening of the EHF Champions League, and our opponents have a full squad available and enter the match as favourites. We still have a few days to prepare well, and we will travel to Germany determined to show that we are ready for this competition. Melsungen will have to confirm their status as favourites on the court, while our task is to deliver a serious performance and fight for a positive result.
It’s a new season and a new format, where more than ever before, it’s important to get off to a good start. Paris is a tough opening act, but we will do everything in our power to defend our home court and come away with the win.
Aalborg are one of the best teams in Europe, especially when they play at home. We played them a few weeks ago in preseason and know that what is waiting on Wednesday is a totally different challenge. Friendly matches and CL matches are not to be compared. Our win in Chambéry to start the league season gave us confidence, but still with things we need to improve to compete on the level we will face on Wednesday. With the new Champions League format, it's important to be ready from day one. We want to start the competition with a strong performance.
I feel we’re in the perfect moment to start the Champions League. We tested ourselves last weekend in the Iberian super cup, overcoming Porto and Sporting, two Champions League teams.
I see Janus and Sergey as a good fit for the team. They are already adding to the team in the court and in the dressing room, so I hope we will keep up with our good work from last season.
We are excited to start our Champions League campaign in Barcelona against the defending champions. Barça play at a very high tempo and have quality in every phase of the game, so it will definitely be a demanding test for us.
We will stay true to our own playing philosophy, with full commitment in every action, and use our strengths to challenge Barça. We are ready to compete and test ourselves at the highest level of European club handball.
Starting the Champions League against Montpellier this year means starting with high levels of competitive pressure. We are working to be a cohesive team capable of competing against theoretically stronger opponents. This year we are counting heavily on the support of Dinamo fans, which is also a decisive factor in helping us win. Even knowing the strength of our opponent, I hope it will be a great day for our club.
With the new competition format, you have to fight for points from the very first game. There are only six matches in the group stage, with two teams progressing, so we cannot afford any spells without picking up points like we did last season. I’m happy that the EHF has increased the number of teams and that new sides have joined the competition, because that’s great for the fans.
We’re happy the Champions League is back. Qualifying for the competition once again is by no means something we take for granted. We have an exciting group and start against Kolstad, a team that puts a strong emphasis on young Norwegian players while also having plenty of international experience in its ranks. That makes for an interesting mix.
We are up against the best team in the world, so we are trying to focus on ourselves. We have a new and young team, so it will take some time for us to be "up there". But we will try our best!
