The absence of superstar Sander Sagosen and defense chief Hendrik Pekeler ultimately proved to be too big a mortgage. “I don’t want to look for excuses, but of course we missed them,” said Duvnjak. However, the Croatian left no doubt about the Catalans’ deserved success: “You have to say clearly that Barcelona were better.”
Mainly because some of Kiel’s trump cards didn’t stand out this time. On the offensive, Sweden’s European champion Niclas Ekberg in particular sinned. “I’m incredibly disappointed, especially with myself, because today I missed my chances,” said the right winger self-critically.
“We can be satisfied”
The disadvantage in the goalkeeper position weighed even more heavily. Niklas Landin, actually a safe bet between the THW posts, was not a factor at all. The Danish world champion clearly lost out in a duel with his counterpart Gonzalo Perez de Vargas and then admitted: “Unfortunately, I didn’t get the day I would have liked to have.” Only six saves were not enough to stop the strong offensive of the star ensemble from Barcelona.
So it did not come to the culmination of a season in which the Kiel team at least did not remain untitled thanks to the DHB Cup victory. As runner-up behind the sovereign champion SC Magdeburg, THW is also in the premier class in the 2022/23 season and can then make another attempt at Europe’s handball throne. “We’ve always stood together,” Landin praised the team spirit, and Duvnjak summed it up: “We can be satisfied.”