analysis
Barca are the first team to defend their title at the Final Four in Cologne. Kielce keeper Andreas Wolff already had a hand on the cup.
It is the tenth Champions League title for the record winner. The fourth win at Final Four. The seventh title of the season. FC Barcelona is the ultimate in club handball.
But Kielce violently shook the throne of the Catalans. Barca only defeated KS Kielce with DHB goalkeeper Andreas Wolff in the seven-meter throw in the final in the premier class. “The game definitely needs to be processed, it hurts a lot right now“, said Wolff, who has been in goal for the Poles since 2019. “Of course you also have to pay tribute that Barca might be the best team in the world. We had hope that we could crown ourselves as such, at least temporarily.”
A hand on the cup
In the truest sense of the word, Wolff already had a hand on the cup. It’s his turn on the first penalty throw – also on the second seven-meter throw All Star Backcourt player Dika Mem, who deflected off the post and then fell into the goal. “Very frustrating in hindsight, catastrophic how unlucky there was in the litter”says Wolff, “I think if he falls out, then we win the thing.”
Instead, the Catalans celebrate. “It means so much to me, I’m proud of my team. We made history today by defending our title. We will enjoy this title, but we want more”said Dika Mem, “For me it was the toughest game I’ve ever played in my professional career.”
First title defense in Cologne
Barca is the first team to manage to defend the title. Since the first edition of the Final Fours in Cologne 2010 all title holders failed in the following year. There was even talk of a “curse”. Even favorites often had a difficult time.
At the media meeting before the semi-finals, Kielce’s goalkeeper Andreas Wolff didn’t want to know about the pressure: “I think we should push the role of favorites to Barcelona. Then they have two curses at once. Whereby minus and minus could also give plus.” That he is right means “only” silver on his Final Four-Premiere.
New start next year
“It was two very intense days, a great time. It was a childhood dream to be able to play here.”Wolff sums up the weekend, during which the Kielce fans created a home game atmosphere in the Kölnarena. “I hope that we will draw strength from this defeat for the next season and then come back even stronger”according to Wolff.