THW Kiel is aiming for its fifth triumph in the Champions League at the Final Four in Cologne. The way to the title could also lead through ex-goalkeeper Andreas Wolff.
A smile twitched over Andreas Wolff’s face. “Absolutely, that would be a dream,” said the national goalkeeper about a possible final against THW Kiel. But before the premier class showdown in Cologne, the same applies to the keeper of the Polish top club Vive Kielce as to the German record champions: first the semi-finals, then the final.
“If you’re already thinking about the final, then you’re out,” said THW coach Filip Jicha. Only a win on Saturday (6:00 p.m. / DAZN) against defending champions FC Barcelona makes a duel with ex-Kieler Wolff possible in the Final Four of the Champions League.
He plays in front of almost 20,000 fans in the Lanxess Arena with the Polish champions beforehand (3:15 p.m.) against Telekom Veszprem for the first final ticket. “I’ll keep my fingers crossed for the people of Kiel after our hopefully victorious semifinals, I wouldn’t begrudge them that,” said Wolff in a good mood on Friday in the garden of the player’s hotel in Cologne.
Reversed signs at Kielce and Kiel
The omens for the probably most popular German handball player and the THW are quite different. While Wolff and the Poles are extremely strong this season, the THW goes into the final tournament badly battered. With Hendrik Pekeler and Sander Sagosen, both the defense and attack chiefs are out.
So it will be “extremely difficult” for the THW, national coach Alfred Gislason suspects. “With the two boys, THW would have had a good chance of winning the title. Without these two players, Kiel are blatant outsiders,” said the long-time THW coach in Mannheimer Morgen.
Kiel fights its personnel shortage with a lot of optimism. “The past few years have shown that the favorite doesn’t always win. Everything is possible,” said pivot Patrick Wiencek. And Jicha said: “If Barca want to go to the final, they have to beat us first. We’ll be there, we have a plan.”
THW Kiel is hoping for support from the fans
When reaching for Europe’s crown, the THW also hopes that it will be ripped off in the cathedral city. Altogether it is the eighth participation. Most recently, Jicha led THW 2020 to the fourth title in the premier class – albeit in front of a ghost backdrop.
The fact that after two years the hall will finally be full again drives THW on. “The fans give back an incredible amount. But we have to start with ourselves – with commitment on the field,” demanded Jicha, with seven participations in the THW’s “Mr. Final Four”.
For Wolff, on the other hand, it is the first participation in Cologne. In his years in Kiel (2016 to 2019), the European champion never qualified for the final tournament with THW. The media hype on Friday impressed him all the more.
Wolff “can hardly wait for it to start”
“It’s a special feeling, similar to a World Cup or the Olympics,” said Wolff, who admitted to being “a bit nervous” but radiated relaxation to the outside world. The 2016 European champion answered the numerous questions on Friday with his arms crossed – sometimes in German, sometimes in fluent Polish.
The anticipation was unmistakable. “I can hardly wait for it to start,” said Wolff. The people of Kiel feel the same way. “We will fight until we drop,” Jicha promised.