First defeats for PSG and Aalborg, biggest ever win for Magdeburg
After the first four matches of Round 4 in the Machineseeker EHF Champions League, only one team has managed to keep the perfect score: THW Kiel after a battle of defenses in Bitola. The winning streaks of Paris Saint-Germain and Aalborg Handbold were stopped by Industria Kielce and Pick Szeged, while SC Magdeburg secured their first points after a one-sided match against RK Celje.
Unbelievably tough match for us here today, in front of an absolutely amazing crowd. The atmosphere was really unbelievable throughout the entire game. As said, a hard-fought win in the end in which, I feel, our experience played a key role as we were able to make the right moves in those final minutes of the encounter and seal the deal.
We've delivered a really good performance here today, just the one we needed to play a competitive game against Kiel. Maybe that was not the best-looking handball one has ever seen, but we were able to stay close until the very end of the game. I feel like their experience in such situations on this levelled proved to be the key as we ended up missing from a couple of clear looks, and a team like Kiel certainly knows how to take advantage of such mistakes.
I have never experienced such a feeling in my coaching career before and I have to thank my team for making it possible! We've really worked a lot to progress mentally and physically, to step forward from the sympathetic loser role and leave the field as winners, and I have to say this win really feels fantastic. The guys played with big heart, and the spectators created a sensational atmosphere. We are delighted with the victory and aim to continue the same way.
We've played in a sensational atmosphere here today. It's always a great experience to come to Szeged. The home team deserved the win. I regret that we didn't manage to deliver the right performance dealing with several injury problems. If you only give seventy five percent in a match like this - it can't result with anything else but the defeat for your team.
Great game for us today, against a top-quality opponent really. We really wanted to win the game, and thank our former President Bertus Servaas the right way for everything he's done for the team. I feel like we've proved that we once again have a very good team that can do a lot this season.
We were very well aware of hard this game is going to be. We've really tried our best today and failed. I feel like it was from the very first moment visible how important this game is for both sides, which honestly makes me even more sad that we didn't manage to win points.
Congratulations to Magdeburg. They have one of the best teams in Europe and are clear candidates to secure a Final 4 spot this season. We've got to keep our heads high and look forward as we've got an important national league tie ahead of us.
There was only one goal for the team today, and that was to get the first points in this Champions League season. In the end, that's exactly what we did.
