European Handball Watches Vienna  

Handball coaches, managers, players and fans will be waiting for news from Vienna on Friday evening. The draw for the first group phase of the Champions League is going to take place at the Champions League Gala at 22:00hrs.

Eurohandball.com asked for comments from some of the Men’s Champions League teams ahead of the draw:

Lars Christiansen, left winger of German team, SG Flensburg Handewitt:

“It might be interesting to meet Danish champions GOG. They are not easy team, but still they are probably one of the easiest possible opponents from Pot 1. In addition, there has been so much talk in Denmark lately that the Danish league almost reached the level of Bundesliga that it would be good to settle the matter by beating the Danish champions.”

Thomas Mogensen, new playmaker of Flensburg Handewitt who arrives from Danish champion, GOG Svendborg TGI:

“I think it would be fun to meet GOG, and I know that the other former GOG players in Flensburg – Anders Eggert, Kasper Nielsen and Søren Stryger – all feel the same way too. Furthermore, GOG are probably the ‘easiest’ possible opponents from Pot 1.”

Torsten Laen, new pivot of Spanish champion, BM Ciudad Real:

“With our seeding, you shouldn’t fear any opponent – and we don’t. For me, of course, it would have been fun to meet my former club, GOG, but as both teams have been seeded in Pot 1, we will have to wait at least until the second group phase.”

Arne Buch, director of Danish champion, GOG Svendborg TGI: “From a financial point of view, teams such as SG Flensburg Handewitt from Pot 2 or FC Barcelona from Pot 4 would be attractive. On the other hand, such opponents would obviously make it hard for us to reach our goal and qualify for the second group stage.”

Søren Hildebrand, coach of Viborg HK, who will play qualification round:

“First of all, we have to concentrate on going on from the qualification matches. We do realise that once we make it into the first group stage, things will be very difficult for us as we are seeded in Pot 4. There will be many teams in the competition who are stronger than us.”