Aalborg dream to go from hammer group all the way to Nantes
Aalborg dream to go from hammer group all the way to Nantes
After two successful seasons in the VELUX EHF Champions League, where they made it twice to the Last 16, Aalborg Handball are now aiming for going all the way to the EHF Cup Finals in Nantes, France.
The team of coach Jesper Jensen – including the Norwegian EHF EURO star Sandor Sagosen - is out for their biggest international success.
After two clear wins in the third qualification round against Swiss side St. Gallen the Danish outfit will face Magdeburg, Dinamo Bucuresti and Granollers in the hammer Group A – but it is there clear objective not only to proceed to the quarter-finals, but the EHF Cup Finals.
Before the season, Aalborg strengthened their team with Swedish goalkeeper Andreas Palicka, former VELUX EHF Champions League winner with THW Kiel, who replaced Norwegian international Ole Erevik between the posts – their major new arrival.
In addition to improving their squad, Aalborg invested in their arena to increase the capacity to more than 5,000 seats for their third appearance in the EHF Cup (the first since the new playing system was implemented) and to attract more fans for their league matches – as besides their international goals is to make it to the semi-finals of the Danish league to qualify for European Cup competitions again.
Three questions to coach Jesper Jensen:
What are your expectations for the EHF Cup Group Phase regarding your objectives and your group opponents?
Jesper Jensen: We are playing to reach the EHF Cup Finals, but the draw placed us in a very strong group. SC Magdeburg are the favourite to take the first position, and we have to struggle against Dinamo Bucuresti and Granollers for the second spot in the group.
What does the participation in the EHF Cup Group Phase mean to you and your club?
Jesper Jensen: Our objective is to play European Cup Competition every season to gain experience for our young players and to arrange great matches for our big audience.
What teams are your personal favourites to reach the EHF Cup Finals?
Jesper Jensen: My favourites are SKA Minsk, Chambery, Nantes and Aalborg.
Aalborg Handbold (DEN)
Newcomers: Andreas Palicka (THW Kiel, Germany), Aron Edvardsson (Eskilstuna GUIF, Sweden), Jesper Meinby (Mors-Thy Handbold, Denmark), René Antonsen (Ribe-Esbjerg HH, Denmark) and Chris Jörgensen (GOG, Denmark)
Left the club: Ole Erevik (Aix, France), Niclas Barud (Frisch Auf Göppingen, Germany), Nicolai Pedersen (Nordsjælland Handbold, Denmark), Marcus Mørk (Mors-Thy Handbold, Denmark)
Coach: Jesper Jensen (since 2014)
Team captain: Håvard Tvedten
Qualification for the EHF Cup Group Phase: Round 3 against Otmar St. Gallen 30:20, 32:28
Past achievements
VELUX EHF Champions League:
Last 16: 2013/14, 2014/15
Group Phase: 2010/11
EHF Cup:
Quarter-final: 2003/04
Round 3: 2004/05
Danish league: 2 titles (2009/10, 2012/13)
Danish Super Cup: 1 title (2012)
