“We are very motivated to prove that we didn’t reach this stage by accident, but we are also motivated to knock them out this time,” said Izviđača handball coach Ivan Džolić ahead of the first match of the EHF European Cup quarterfinals against the Czech Karvina, scheduled for this Sunday in Ljubuški at 6 p.m.
After being relegated from the qualification for the EHF European League in September 2024, Scout will meet Czech Karvin for the third time in a year and a half next Sunday.
It will be the first of two quarter-final duels as part of the EHF European Cup, a competition in which the Ljubus “scouts” reached the semi-finals last season, in which they were eliminated by the Greek AEK.
Coach Ivan Džolić remembers well the previous two clashes with the Czechs, who won 33:22 in the first home game, and Izviđač in Ljubuški retaliated 32:26, which was still not enough to pass.
– A large part of that double match was already decided in the Czech Republic. It was my debut and that of my colleague coach Milan Tolić on the scout bench. We have learned a lot since then, both us and the players. We have gathered a lot of experience since then. I remember that then they surprised us with a deeper defense, which they practice even now. We will certainly draw lessons from that meeting for the next two-match match – said Džolić in an interview for Fena.
He added that his optimism is based on the fact that Scouts, although a young team, is more experienced for the very successful last season, as well as the fact that the “scouts” are playing well in the championship and in Europe this season.
– We were left without Milan Vukšić, Haris Suljević, Marijan Šaravanje and Matej Ljubić, however, I think we compensated for their departures very well – Džolić added.
As for Karvina, the Czechs kept practically the same team, with the same coach and coach of the Czech Republic, Michal Bruno. The only big change is the departure of their best player, Dominik Solak, who left for the Bundesliga, and was replaced by Slovakian international Marian Hajka.
Džolić states that the Czechs have certain problems with injuries, so Jonas Patzel, who caused a lot of problems for Scout two years ago, probably won’t be ready, and they also had problems at right back, where the Ukrainian national team member Ilia Bližnjuk was injured for the last two months, with the fact that he recently returned to the floor in the Czech play off games.
– More or less, we know everything about them, just like they know about us. I think we will be much more prepared than last season. Thanks to the EHF break, we have already been preparing for Karvina for two weeks. We will certainly be motivated, above all to prove that we did not reach this stage by accident – said the BiH strategist. champion, whose staff also has problems, since pivot Đorđe Ratković suffered a concussion in Trebinje.
An important detail this time is that the first match will be played in Ljubuški.
– I believe that it would have been a different story if we had opened the previous doubleheader with the Czechs in Ljubuški. I expect that we will impose our own rhythm this time. This season we are constantly being followed by the fact that we play the first game at home, which is more difficult for the opponents. That’s how we got three points against Trimo Trebnje at home, and then we played an even better game in Slovenia – reminded Džolić.
He emphasized that the first goal this season was to spend the winter in Europe, and that now in Ljubuški there is a belief that Karvina is a team that can be played with.
– I would like our fans to repeat the cheering from Slovenia, where they were a strong wind at our backs. It would be good to shock the Czechs this time. Maybe they won’t expect that, since a year and a half ago, the hall was half-empty after a convincing defeat in the first game. This time I sincerely hope for a packed hall and a positive result in return – concluded the BH coach. champion.
The second leg in the Czech Republic will be played on Sunday, April 5, and the winner of this match will face the winner of the match between MOL Tatabanya (Hungary) and Nilufer BSK (Turkey) in the semi-finals.
(Vijesti.ba / FENA)
