Flash quotes: Maschinensucher EHF Finals 2025 finals
HAMBURG - Comments from THW Kiel head coach Filip Jicha (CZE), right back Emil Madsen (DEN), centre back Elias Ellefsen á Skipagøtu (FAR) and line player Patrick Wiencek (GER), and MT Melsungen head coach Roberto Parrondo (ESP), left wing Florian Drosten (GER), centre back Eric Balenciaga (ESP) and left wing Ian Barrufet (ESP) after THW Kiel beat MT Melsungen 37:31 in the Maschinensucher EHF Finals 2025 3/4 placement match at the Barclays Arena on Sunday.
3/4 PLACEMENT MATCH: THW KIEL vs MT MELSUNGEN 37:31
Filip Jicha (CZE) – head coach, THW Kiel
On the match:
“Yesterday it was a very tough defeat and it was not easy to perform today, but I have to congratulate my guys for the effort they put definitely in this match, this bronze match, it was not easy. It’s a lot of emotions after the tough defeat.
“It was a good match from our side with a lot of emotion. We put it for our fans, we put emotion at heart for (our) families and obviously for Patrick (Wiencek), it was his last international match. This makes me proud of my guys. They performed as a team and it’s not that easy.
“It was a tough match after yesterday.”
Emil Madsen (DEN) – right back, THW Kiel
On the match:
“Of course it was tough to play the bronze game today but we gave it all, not just for ourselves but also for the fans, and for Patrick (Wiencek).
“We really gave everything we had. Of course we were a little bit sad about yesterday, but we also have to continue and I’m really proud of the team today. A lot of players were a little bit tired from yesterday, from the match before, but we held our heads high and we did it for our fans.”
Patrick Wiencek (GER) – line player, THW Kiel
On his last international match:
“It was my dream to win a European trophy in my last match, but finally we won the bronze medals. This is what stays. Now I am tired, happy about the win – and now I am really looking forward to drinking a cool beer in the dressing room.”
On winning the bronze medal:
“Yesterday was a day to forget for Melsungen and for us. The evening after this defeat was the lowest point, but we knew we are playing in a fully-packed arena, the fans are there, and you have to perform.
“Both teams were highly motivated to win the match. I am sure the fans liked the match. Personally for me and the team, it was a nice game. The most important thing was that we showed character after this tough defeat yesterday. We set a sign that we really wanted to win this bronze medal.”
Elias Ellefsen á Skipagøtu (FAR) – left back, THW Kiel
On his emotions after the Maschinensucher EHF Finals:
“We have mixed emotions. We wanted to play the final, but when we could not do that, we wanted to show a better job today, so we are happy.
“It was a tough weekend. Yesterday’s loss was hard, but now we are happy that we showed today that we still can play good handball. Our counterattacks were crucial today and that we kept being calmer today in the crunch time. We had more and better solutions in crunch time.”
On his most spectacular goal right before the end:
“The referees had announced passive play, and I had two defenders in front of me, so you have try something special.”
Roberto Parrondo (ESP) – head coach, MT Melsungen
On the match:
“Yesterday it was a tough moment for us.
“We took the match today for giving minutes to everyone, to try that everyone can enjoy this amazing event. It was not important, the result for us today, it was more important that everyone could enjoy a little bit these European finals.”
On the season:
“It was the end of this European League, we’re proud of the season that we did, we’re proud of being here sharing this final four with three other teams who are Champions League winners. Just keep going, and let’s see if next season we can reach more final fours, this is our wish. We know it’s hard but we want to try again.”
Florian Drosten (GER) – left wing, MT Melsungen
On the result and the Bundesliga games to come:
“The weekend was not how we thought it would be but still the season is not over. Next week is the most important game which is waiting for us.
“We enjoyed this weekend, we tried everything, now it is time to get focused again and do everything to make a really good game on Thursday.”
Eric Balenciaga (ESP) – centre back, MT Melsungen
On the match:
“The crucial point of the match was when Kiel steal some balls in the second half and run some counterattacks. When they took a clear lead, we tried our best to come back, but we could not turn it around. Kiel deserved to win today.
“Now we have to be ready for the crucial Bundesliga matches. We hope to recover and try to win the trophy which we did not win here.”
Ian Barrufet (ESP) – left back, MT Melsungen
On becoming top scorer of the EHF European League Men 2024/25:
“This trophy means a lot for me. Of course I would not score without the help from my teammates – and they really helped me a lot in the whole season. My father is really proud of me.”
On finishing fourth at the Maschinensucher EHF Finals:
“We missed our goal this weekend, but still, we can reach our goal to become German champions. We tried everything yesterday and today. We know that we can beat everyone, and we were close in the semi-final, today Kiel was better.”
