A few hours after the renewed triumph at the club world championship, the handball players of SC Magdeburg were enthusiastically received at their home arena. Hundreds of fans waited for the team bus, which arrived at 6:00 p.m., accompanied by sirens from the fire brigade that had arrived especially for the event.
On Sunday evening, SCM defended its title from the previous year in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, with a 41:39 win over FC Barcelona. For coach Bennet Wiegert it was the fifth title since he took over the team at the end of 2015.
“I’m delighted that we won the trophy,” said goalkeeper Nikola Portner after the game, in which he saved a penalty just before the end of extra time. “I’ve been here for three months and that I’ve already won a title is unbelievable for me. I couldn’t have imagined it better,” added the Swiss national keeper.
In borrowed jerseys to win the World Cup
“Hardly any of us got our luggage, then we had to play in borrowed shirts, won the first game and from then on things actually went quite well,” said captain Christian O’Sullivan, summing up the week of the tournament. “The final might not have been that great for you to watch, but it was nice for us to play,” added Portner.
As in the previous year, the people from the Elbe have hardly any time to enjoy the title. The return trip to Magdeburg was already scheduled for the night, and the Champions League continues in Veszprem, Hungary, on Thursday. “The game plan is just merciless and I think that after the week and the extra time the boys don’t have much strength to celebrate,” explained successful coach Wiegert. “We’re incredibly proud. Defending a title is usually more difficult than winning it surprisingly – and then twice against Barcelona, perhaps one of the strongest teams in Europe,” said the 40-year-old.