Flash quotes: EHF FINAL4 Women 2024 semi-finals

BUDAPEST - Comments from Team Esbjerg head coach Jesper Jensen, right back Nora Mørk (NOR), left back Michala Møller (DEN) and centre back Henny Reistad, and Györi Audi ETO KC head coach Per Johansson (SWE), line player Kari Brattset Dale (NOR), centre back Estelle Nze Minko (FRA), left wing Nadine Szollosi-Schatzl (HUN) and left back Bruna de Paula (BRA) after Györi Audi ETO KC beat Team Esbjerg 24:23 in semi-final 1; and from Metz Handball head coach Emmanuel Mayonnade (FRA), line player Sarah Bouktit (FRA), centre backs Alina Grijseels (GER) and Kristina Jörgensen (DEN) and left back Anne Mette Hansen (DEN); and SG BBM Bietigheim head coach Jakob Vestergaard (DEN), left back Kelly Dulfer (NED), line player Kaba Gassama (ESP), back Karolina Kudlacz-Gloc (POL), goalkeeper Gabriela Moreschi (BRA), centre back Inger Smits (NED) and left back Xenia Smits (GER) after SG BBM Bietigheim beat Metz Handball 36:29 in semi-final 2 at the MVM Dome on Saturday.

Team Esbjerg vs Györi Audi ETO KC

Jesper Jensen (DEN) – head coach, Team Esbjerg

On the match:
“It was a tough match for us. I think we played well, my team played very well. We had a lot of chances, but Sandra (Toft) performed on a very high level as a Danish national girl. I think that adds for me but not today.”

On their performance:
“We played a good attacking game. We create enough chances to beat Györ. In this match you have to perform in an extremely high level as a team if you want to go to the (EHF) Champions League final.

“We just have to settle for playing for third place but that takes nothing from Györ, they deserved as much as we did. Two amazing teams, what a clash, so we should be proud for our handball. This is an extreme high level and the best players in the world so I hope a lot of children can be emotional about these matches and the players on the court.”

Nora Mørk (NOR) – right back, Team Esbjerg

On the game:
“I do not think so it was a crazy game at all. I think it was ordinary. We play okay, but not good enough. I think in the crucial moments we hit the post or the goalkeeper. They do not so.

“I am disappointed. I think we could have done maybe a better job in a way, but we also get lot of chances which we should score. I am a little bit disappointed that we once again do not do that.”

Michala Møller (DEN) – left back, Team Esbjerg

On the result:
“It was a really tough game, nice game. We are all a little bit disappointed now. We have played for the bronze medal twice and we lost twice. Of course it is a big motivations for us. We really want to go home with a bronze medal tomorrow. We will do everything that we can to win tomorrow.”

Henny Reistad (NOR) – centre back, Team Esbjerg

On their performance:
“We fought really hard and we did what we supposed to do in defence, and our goalkeepers had a really great match so I am really disappointed that we didn’t make it and we didn’t score that we make it.”

Per Johansson (SWE) – head coach, Györi Audi ETO KC

On their performance:
“We were not definitely out of the bus for the first three to four minutes. After this I am extremely happy about how we performed on the full first half. We increased the defence in a very good way. We blocked many things inside from two to five (metres). We had a lot of goal chances and we also start to create more crosses so in the break I was happy.

“Then we suffered a lot in the second because Esbjerg is really good on this with seven against six even if I think we played really good to them but the tempo goes down and we know that they never give up. They are also been in this stage for so many years and also in the Danish league they used to win.

“So in the end it’s just a coin toss but there were Sandra (Toft) who saved us. But overall we talked a lot (that) we need our goalkeepers, we need our defence, we need our turnaround and this was the key. Of course I am happy we brought down Esbjerg on 23 goals. This is for us amazing.”

Kari Brattset Dale (NOR) – line player, Györi Audi ETO KC

On reaching the final:
“It means everything of course. This is what we are dreaming and fighting of the whole season. It was a close game and a tough match. This was amazing."

On the match:
“It was a crazy game. I think both teams wanted it so much and you can see it on us. We had a really tough start of the first half, but after that we really raised our level, and we finished the half time in a good way.

“They are come closer in the second half. We knew they were come back, they are really strong team. In the end we were the lucky ones. It was a close game, and everything could happen. I am so grateful.”

Estelle Nze Minko (FRA) – centre back, Györi Audi ETO KC

On the match:
“It was a crazy game. In second half we feel some point I feel that they score, we score, they score, we score. Definitely struggle for a moment where they played seven (against six).

“But at the same time, we tried everything. Sometimes we are going up, sometimes we are going down. We were trying a lot, but also what a Team Esbjerg. I really grateful that we win today. It is always such a clash. Plus one, I feel it is always the case between us. It was a crazy game, and I am so glad we made it.”

Nadine Szollosi-Schatzl (HUN) – left wing, Györi Audi ETO KC

On their emotions:
“We were waiting for the match to start. We prepared very well for Team Esbjerg and we very wanted to win this match to play in the final tomorrow. I am very happy to win the match even if in the last minutes it became very tight. I am just very happy.”

On the final:
“If you reach a final, you want to win it. Once it happened since I am here in Györ, but then we got silver. I hope I can end it with a gold. Not just for myself, but for these players to end their career and I wish it can end in a worthy way.”

Bruna de Paula (BRA) – left back, Györi Audi ETO KC

On the close end to the game:
“I cannot describe the finish, it was crazy. In the last two minutes I was on the bench, I thought I couldn’t handle it, but it was an amazing game. I’m really happy and proud of my team.”

On their season:
“It was a really hard season, but also this was our power today, and we put everything on the field. We just showed the world our best version.

“When our coach (Per Johansson) came in Györ, he put all good energy in that. You could see that today.  Even if you are not on the field, you feel that we all play together,  actually all player play together.”

On the final:
“It doesn’t matter who will be our opponent tomorrow, we will give our everything and we will try to get to the gold medal.”

Metz Handball vs SG BBM Bietigheim

Emmanuel Mayonnade (FRA) – head coach, Metz Handball

On the result:
“They deserved the win, no doubt. I am also very happy for Xenia (Smits), she is a really good person and an amazing player.

“Of course I am very sad. We didn’t play as we expected before the match. We had the feeling that the mood was good all the week. That was more-or-less good for the match but we made maybe too many mistakes and maybe we had the chance in the first half but we miss some stupid passes and shots also.

“We had a lot of respect for Bietigheim before the match and we didn’t say it will be an easy match of course, we are not this kind of people. They won against Ikast and Ikast is the only team to win twice against us. I am very sad, no one can imagine. I would like to go I don’t know where but I am so sad.”

Sarah Bouktit (FRA) - line player, Metz Handball

On their performance:
"We started the match well. We were in it, we felt good, there were some small mistakes in the first period but we took them on the chin. But when everything fell apart we had nothing, we lost all the balls, we couldn't score even from six metres."

On being marked by Bietigheim:
"They knew our profile, that's what stood out the most. They targeted Chloé (Valentini), they targeted me, and they kept close to Kristina (Jörgensen) who wasn't able to shoot very much. They must have done a lot of video work - we did too."

Alina Grijseels (GER) – centre back, Metz Handball

On their performance:
“Our defence was not good enough. We lose too many duels. We knew what they play, they played it really good. We were prepared, but we cannot give it on the field. I think they deserved the win, they more clever than us.”

On her emotions:
“In this moment I am very sad that we don’t go to the final. We played two times in the group stage against Esbjerg: one time we won, one time they won so we know it will be a tough match. Of course we want to get the third place and the bronze medal but now we are just sad about our game.”

Kristina Jörgensen (DEN) – centre back, Metz Handball

On her emotions:
“I am disappointed and sad. I am sad that we do not play better, and we perform better in defence and give our goalkeepers better opportunity to have some saves. We did really bad second half which is sad. This was our worst half in the season.”

Anne Mette Hansen (DEN) - left back, Metz Handball

On their performance:
“The first half was OK, I feel we have missed a lot of chances, and it’s going to be really difficult when we can’t score. That is a little painful. I feel we missed a little bit of the coolness we play with normally. Maybe in the last five minutes we ran like we normally do, but the rest of the second half, I don’t know – experience, nerves.

“This we need to improve. When you let in 36 goals, it is really hard to win, especially when you miss on the other end, but I don’t feel we helped our goalkeepers today and that’s not so good.

“It was the second half that was terrible from our side, when we missed clear chances. And of course in the end we had to something, and we tried, but it didn’t go all the way. Maybe it’s going to be a little clearer, than throughout the game.”

On the placement match on Sunday:
“I tried fourth place and third place and there is a big difference. To get home with a medal, it’s a lot better feeling to end up with. the last game to win than to lose.”

Jakob Vestergaard (DEN) – head coach, SG BBM Bietigheim

On their performance:
“The game we play was very good for us and we succeeded in the second half. We also know that Metz had a lot of pressure against them, because nobody believe that we could go to the final and therefore it not so easy to go in a match like this one.

“They played very strong at the first half, we had actually many problems. In the second half it was a little bit easier for my team and also because that there had this time pressure against them. They need to be a little bit more aggressive, that then maybe they would like to be.

“But of course, I am so proud of my team, they fight very very good. I am also proud that a German club for the first time in female handball play a final.”

Kelly Dulfer (NED) – left back, SG BBM Bietigheim

On their performance:
“In the second half everything went well and we fought, in the end we won quite easily. We are so happy.”

On their opponents:
“They are so fast. We said that when we can play six against six, we win. We have to take their contra out and also Gabi (Gabriela Moreschi) was amazing, she saved so many.”

On their rollercoaster season:
“Last year we had a really hard time and then went out of the (EHF) Champions League. This year it also happened, we lost the Pokal, the cup in Germany, and this moment we came back as a team together. I think you learn so much when you lose and you can come together as a team, everybody forgets about the cup. Now we are in the finals of the Champions League, it’s unbelievable. I feel amazing.”

On the final:
“The atmosphere tomorrow will be amazing. Again, we have nothing to lose. We go, we fight, we do the same way as today. And of course I am looking forward to play the final of the Champions League against Györ in Hungary. I think it’s the best final.”

Kaba Gassama (ESP) – line player, SG BBM Bietigheim

On her emotions:
“We are so so happy for this game. I think it was our best match in this season. We are happy for us and of course for our fans.”

On the win:
“The key of the game was our defence. Our defence in the second half was absolutely amazing. Our goalkeeper, Gabi (Gabriela Moreschi), was fantastic. I think this was the key of our victory.”

Karolina Kudlacz-Gloc (POL) – back, SG BBM Bietigheim

On her emotions:
“I don’t know what happened, I don’t know where I am right now, I don’t know where is my body, I don’t know where is my thinking. I would like to enjoy every second here now, after this game, before the game, it’s crazy. My career was so long, and I had really everything, up and down, but moments like this I could only dream about.”

On their team:
“Gabi (Gabriela Moreschi) is always our main point in the game and in every match, but we are here because of the team. We fight for everyone, we fight for every ball, we fight in the defence, we invest a lot of power in the defence, and this is what makes us strong and that’s why we are now in the final. Every person who is on the field give everything not for themselves, but for the team. I only had a dream about this, but we are really a team.”

On the match:
“I was never afraid in the game that Metz can come back because it’s only a game. We can lose, but we are still alive, we are human and we are still happy. Maybe not that time, but actually it’s nothing bad. So to be afraid is something I learned not to be.

“We believe in our team every second, also when we are behind with many goals, we just keep going and we fight, in the end we will see if it was enough to win the game or not. I also said before the game: ‘Girls, we don’t have to be afraid, we only lose, nothing else will happen. I know it’s an important game, but it’s still only handball.’

“I want only to stay and fight as a team and give everything, so at the end of the game we won’t say to each other that we didn’t. Until we give everything, it’s fine.”

Gabriela Moreschi (BRA) – goalkeeper, SG BBM Bietigheim

On her emotions:
“I am very happy and I am very proud of my team. I cannot describe this feeling now, it’s amazing. They said we are underdogs when we faced Ikast and Odense but we made it. We didn’t feel down and we didn’t feel the pressure. We are now just very happy about being in the final.”

Inger Smits (NED) – centre back, SG BBM Bietigheim

On her emotions:
“I feel amazing. I really cannot realise, to be honest. There was one big party together with our fans.

“If I think back for the second half now, I cannot even think about the different situations. It’s just a black hole. I am now just very happy. We can party a little bit now, maybe for one hour and we have to really focus on tomorrow because now we are in the final and we want to win it. Now I’m just feeling the joy for this match but when we come back to the hotel we will 100 per cent focus on the final.”

Xenia Smits (GER) – left back, SG BBM Bietigheim

On the result:
“There is no team coming to here to lose. We all want to win this competition. That is why we are professional players and clubs. We will prepare as good as possible.”

On the final:
“We also try to recover fast, to eat and drink something fast and have a little cooldown to be ready for tomorrow. I am sure the coaches will do the best work they could. They prepared us for all the possible opponents. We can enjoy it a little bit but also want focus on the game tomorrow. We try to win this game of course.”