"Women are a mystery"

Coach Trefilov is often believed to be a strict and serious person for being a strict coach. In reality Trefilov, who is one of the most successful handball coaches of all time, always talks passionately about handball. His comments are not always so serious as one would expect. He answered Eurohandball.com after Day 1 of the Champions Trophy in Chekhov.

Eurohandball.com: There have been changes in Zvezda. What can you tell us about it?

Evgeni Trefilov: Yes, there will be big changes. Kareeva, Romenskaya retired from top handball, Poltoratskaya is still thinking. Now I can also officially confirm that Shipilova stops playing. She will be operated and I don’t believe that it would be possible for her to continue, anyway. In addition, Andryushina has problems with her shoulder too...

I spent eight years with these players and now they are gone. But perhaps some of them will return. You can never know: women are the mystery of our lives...

Eurohandball.com: What is your team like at the minute?

Evgeni Trefilov: I got tired players back from the Olympics. Apart from them, we have young handballers, but they are not ready yet for top level. I do not have reserve players with experience.

Eurohandball.com: What are your objectives then in the upcoming Champions League at all?

Evgeni Trefilov: We have objectives, but they are, let’s say, secret... Maybe it would be better for us to play in the Cup Winners’ Cup next season, but we first of all, want to do well in the Russian league.

Eurohandball.com: Did you consider signing players to your team from Russia or from abroad?

Evgeni Trefilov: All good Russian players have a contract. The top players in Europe are impossible to get. But just ask the same question from Hypo. They also have a small squad. Maybe they agree that it is difficult to get good players.

Today the Romanians and the Turks can afford good players, which is a new thing. But who would have believed just a few years ago that countries such as Angola, Tunisia or Brazil will be important in handball?