PÁLINGER: “THE CHAMPIONSLEAGUE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL”

eurohandball.com interviewed Dunaferr’s Hungarianinternational goalkeeper, Katalin Pálinger after her side’s victory overBuducnost MONET in Group A of the Champions League. Pálinger showed her usual,high-level performance and contributed to this triumph with quite a fewbrilliant saves.

eurohandball.com: You are past the groupphase of the Champions League. How do you evaluate your team’s performance sofar?

Katalin Pálinger: I think we can be completelysatisfied with our results so far, as we were not beaten on home ground. Wecould defeat both Buducnost and Sagunto in the away matches. Unfortunately, welost against Ikast by one goal, but we had a draw with them in Dunaújváros,even though we were down by 5 goals in the 54th minute. Considering how manyplayers we were missing, it was a good achievement.

eurohandball.com: How far do you thinkthe team can go in the Champions League?

Pálinger: It might depend on the outcome of the othergroup; we do not know which team is going to reach the first place there. Threeof them are still contending for the top two spots. (Meanwhile, Viborg havesecured the first position in Group B, so they will face Dunaferr in the nextround.)

eurohandball.com: Who would you pick as the nextopponent?

Pálinger: I would prefer Hypo. We know them and Ithink we can read their game very well. Of course, we are ready for anychallenge, whoever we have to face. We always target victory, but we willdefinitely need our injured players to recover as soon as possible.

eurohandball.com: How different is a Champions Leaguematch from a domestic championship clash?

Pálinger: They have a completely differentatmosphere. If you watch the CL-matches, you can see that the speed is quitedifferent, and you have to keep up the high tempo throughout the clash, and theopponents capitalise on the slightest mistake you make. This is theinternational level. 

eurohandball.com: You might have to missthis atmosphere next year, as your new club, FCK is probably not going tocompete in the CL…

Pálinger: They surely will not, at least not nextyear. Many fans keep asking me if I am going to come back to play againstDunaferr in the CL here, but this is definitely not going to happen next year.I considered this factor when I decided where to transfer. I signed a contractto a club that is not expected to compete in the CL, but in the EHF Cup or theCWC.

eurohandball.com: So you actuallyconsidered this when you balanced the pros and cons of your contract?

Pálinger: It was not the primary factor, but I am veryglad it happened this way. I love playing in Dunaújváros, and I would not liketo return here as an opponent.

eurohandball.com: You might actually helpyour new club getting into the Champions League in the end. Was this anexpectation on the part of FCK when they negotiated the conditions of yourcontract?

Pálinger: In Denmark, people have a differentapproach to expectations, and they articulate them differently. I think if FCKqualifies for the top four of the Danish Championship, it would be a hugesuccess. Of course, I am up to any challenge and I want to do my best to helpmy new club get as high as possible.

eurohandball.com: Would you return toplay for Dunaferr, though?

Pálinger: Anything is possible. Fortunately, theclubs management and I seem to be able to part on friendly terms. Theyunderstood that I wanted to test myself abroad and accepted my decision. We cancome back to this issue after my contract expires in Denmark.

Text: Sándor Joó

www.handball.hu