Quotes after the final matches of the EHF Finals Women 2023

FINAL: NYKØBING FALSTER HÅNDBOLD 24:31 IKAST HANDBOLD

Jakob Larsen – coach, Nykøbing Falster Håndbold

On the reason for the loss:

“The power they came with in the second half – especially Ingvild Bakkerud was really strong in the attack and she broke us down. The tactical movements they made in the second half and also the end of the first half with their 5-1 against us, and also they played against our 5-1, I deeply respect their tactical issues.

“They have been the best-playing handball team this season in the European League.”

On their performance:

“A silver medal for us in the first try in the final four is big. In the group phase we lost the first two games and everybody said we couldn’t go on, and now we were in the final today and took a silver.

When we get a distance on this day everybody will be happy.”

Mia Svele – centre back, Nykøbing Falster Håndbold

On losing the final:

“We lost too many things in defence, lose too many goals, and they take the gap in and we don’t score goals. It’s so simple.”

On their performance overall:

“I’m so proud. We’re a strong team, and never give up, especially yesterday. I just hoped we could fight more in the second half. But that’s how it is.

“We never thought we were going to make it to the EHF Finals, because we lost two of the first games in the group. We’re so happy that we could make it here and now we stand with a silver medal and that’s really big for us.”

Kasper Christensen – coach, Ikast Handbold

On winning the title:

“This tournament was a big goal for us. We have played really good in Denmark, but especially here in Europe. It would have been a disappointment for us not to win today.

“We’re really glad about the performance in the second half especially, also at the end of the first half. We know it’s two teams that know each other really good, we’ve played a lot of matches in the Danish league, and the way Falster played against us in the first half it’s the best I remember in the last seasons they’ve played, especially the defence was really good. A tough match for us, but I’m glad and also really happy about the way my players turned the match around.”

Emma Friis – left wing, Ikast Handbold

On the result:

“I’m very proud of the team performance throughout this weekend and the European League. I think we deserve this medal.”

Julie Scaglione – left back, Ikast Handbold

On winning the title after two lost semi-finals previously:

“It feels so amazing. We lost on the first and second time, and we got it this year, and I’m so relieved and so happy about it.”

On their approach to the match:

“We played against Nykøbing a lot of times and we know it’s a game we can come back in. We needed to stay calm to win.”

3/4 PLACEMENT MATCH: BV Borussia 09 Dortmund 28:23 THÜRINGER HC

Henk Groener – coach, BV Borussia 09 Dortmund

On bouncing back from Saturday’s semi-final:

“We didn't have to motivate players after the semi-final match. They all were motivated to play a good match today, because we know THC very well, and they know us. We are playing again next week in Bundesliga.

“It was hard to get back for both teams as you have to play two games in 24 hours. We had so many intense matches this season and I am very proud of my team.”

Yara ten Holte – goalkeeper, BV Borussia 09 Dortmund

On her performance:

“I’m really happy I could help the team with many saves today, but it was at the end really a team performance. I’m so proud of this team, after the difficult match yesterday, that we showed this today.”

On bouncing back from Saturday’s loss:

“Yesterday evening was a hard evening, but at the end we said we still have a medal to fight for and we wanted that medal and we achieved it.”

Herbert Müller – coach, Thüringer HC

On the match:

“Dortmund deserved to win. The result is too easy to tell. We missed too many chances. It is impossible to win when you miss from wings, fast breaks.

“You don't deserve to win the match if you don't score. we are happy that we were here at the (EHF) Finals but at the finals, it only matters if you win.”

Annika Lott – left back, Thüringer HC

On her emotions:

“I'm sad because we lost. We missed our chances and then you can't win. I am proud that we were here and we played a very good season.”

Anika Niederwieser – centre back, Thüringer HC

On their performance:

“We were so disappointed about our performance yesterday because we played such a good European League season until yesterday. We did the same mistakes that we did already yesterday. We had a good defence, but we had so many missed shots and too much technical mistakes that they immediately punish you.”

On their defence:

“Defence is always six people standing there, seven with the goalkeeper, so sometimes we were really really good, they had big problems, but we missed always in the last moment something. Our concentration was not high enough.”