The SG has been among the top eight teams in Europe 13 times since 2004, but “only” four times has it made it into the semi-finals. The last time that happened was eight years ago, when the Northern Lights qualified for the finals in Cologne for the only time and even won the trophy.
SG coach Machulla: “Intense days for the head”
From the successful Flensburg squad from 2014, alongside the two Swedes Jim Gottfridsson and Hampus Wanne, there is only captain Lasse Svan. The Dane will retire after this season and dreams of playing his last game in the Champions League. “I’m not going to take a long vacation until June 20th,” he said with a smile.
Head coach Maik Machulla was still an assistant coach eight years ago. On Sunday, after the confident appearance in Hanover, he announced the program until Wednesday: “We have to regenerate, breathe, recharge our batteries and prepare very well. It will be two very intensive days for the head.”
In terms of personnel, the coach recently had to plan on the back burner. With Lasse Möller, Magnus Röd, Franz Semper and Aaron Mensing, four backcourt players have been missing for a long time. On Sunday, the Dane replaced Emil Jakobsen on left winger Wanne (ankle). For him, as for everyone else, the following has been true in recent weeks: if you play, you’re in a good mood.
Möller relies on the atmosphere in “Hell North”
Keeper Kevin Möller has performed well recently despite muscular problems and is looking forward to seeing his former club again, whose goal he guarded from 2018 to 2021. The Dane knows what is important: “We need a top performance in all areas. This includes a disciplined attack, a hammer defense and very good throws.”
Möller is counting on the Flensburg fans: “I hope we can scare Barca a bit with a good atmosphere in the hall.” Only 2,000 spectators came against the Spanish top club in September. Advance sales are going much better now.
Two defeats in the group stage
In this year’s group phase, Flensburg lost twice clearly against the defending champions: 21:25 at home and 22:29 in the “Palau Blaugrana”, where the second leg takes place in a week’s time on Thursday.
Maik Machulla hopes this time that his team will make much better use of their chances. In the quarterfinals, the two opponents only faced each other once. That was in 2007, 15 years ago now, when Flensburg dismantled a “myth” with 31:21. A good omen for the Bundesliga club?