HC Vardar 1961 will host Telekom Veszprém on Thursday in the best 16 of the EHF Champions League. Before the clash, we asked our head coach and players about their expectations.
 
David Davis: Vardar is a two times Champions League winner. It is always a complicated team to play against, even though they finished seventh in the group. They had some problems, that everybody had. They did not have so good result, but they were competing against all the teams. They only lost against Kielce with more goals. We cannot underestimate them, not even for one second. We have to be very aware, and be ready to fight, because Vardar fights until the very end. They are not the best opponent we could have gotten from the best 16. We have to play the best game of the season, if we wish to move forward.

 

 
Máté Lékai: We have already experienced on ourselves that Vardar should not be underestimated. They are still a hard team to play against, but I think that Veszprém should not have any less goal than winning in away and at home as well. According to the rules made before the season, we should not be playing right now, but coronavirus overwrites everything. We do not care about that, from now on the only important thing is to win every game.

 

 
Blaz Blagotinsek: This is the best 16, and we are getting closer to the end of the season and it is important to win every match. Vardar is always tough and we have to play really well to win there. We must not lose so many balls and have a tough defense. We will try to win with a big difference.

 

 

Daniil Shiskarev: We have already played against Vardar in the SEHA League final, back in September, but this one is something special for me. I spent six great years in Skopje. I know that it can be difficult for us to play there, but if we prepare well we can have success. For me it will be special, I will meet my friends once again.
 

 

Photo: Dávid Vörös