One of Viborg HK's most important profiles in the women's Champions League finals against Krim Ljubljana will undoubtedly be left back and defence specialist Rikke Skov. The 25-year old Danish national team player had most of her season ruined by...

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One of Viborg HK’s most important profiles in the women’s Champions League finals against Krim Ljubljana will undoubtedly be left back and defence specialist Rikke Skov.

The 25-year old Danish national team player had most of her season ruined by a long injury break; but now she is back and played an important part in Viborg winning the Danish Championship.

Eurohandball.com talked to Rikke Skov during a break in the preparations for the first leg of the Champions League finals.

Eurohandall.com: You lost by six and five goals at home and away to Krim in the group stage back in January/February. How do you see your team’s chances in the finals?

Rikke Skov: I think our chances are very good. We are much better now, in our defence as well as in our attack, than we were back then, so I think we have a really good chance of winning.

Eurohandball.com: You have, of course, watched Krim in their semifinals against another Danish team, Aalborg DH. Based on what you saw in those matches, do you consider Krim stronger or weaker than when you met them in the group stage?

Rikke Skov: It is hard to say. It was, of course, impressive that Krim managed to win by 8 goals in Aalborg in the first leg, while you cannot really judge a lot by the second leg, where Krim lost by one goal at home. Being 8 goals up before your home match, you inevitably take things a little easier, than you otherwise would.

Eurohandball.com: When playing the first match away, many teams calculate by how much they can afford to lose the away match, and still have a chance to win on average at home. Do you think that way before the Sunday game, too?

Rikke Skov: Not at all! We go to Ljubljana to win, and we do not think about losing at all. We travel to Slovenia to do our best, and we expect to win!

Eurohandball.com: You only returned to the team recently after having been sidelined with an injury for almost the entire season. How would you describe your shape right now?

Rikke Skov: I feel my shape has been rapidly improving ever since I made my comeback on March 29th, and I am feeling really fit now and able to live up to my responsibility in our defence as well as in the attack.

Eurohandball.com: Just after your return from the injury, another left back and defence expert, Lene Thomsen, got injured and is out for the rest of the season. Does that put extra pressure on you - not least in the defence?

Rikke Skov: No, not really. I have just walked right back into my old role in the defence and the attack, that I had before I got injured, and do not feel or think about any bigger responsibility or pressure in that respect.

Eurohandball.com: You have recently extended your contract with Viborg HK with no less than three years, so that the contract is now valid until the summer of 2009. What was the reason for this long-term extension?

Rikke Skov: I like being in Viborg, and I want to have the chance of winning the Danish championship and playing in the Champions League every yea - and that is a chance I get in Viborg. Furthermore, I like the club’s visions for the future, and the values, that the club is based on and works for. Therefore it is a place where I like to stay for another three years.


Interview: Peter Bruun