The Rhein-Neckar Löwen, euphoric about the cup triumph, have already written themselves off in the race for the German championship. The defending champion from Magdeburg is in shock after the dramatic final defeat and the SG Flensburg-Handewitt is still nibbling on the semifinals.
After the spectacular Final4 premiere in Cologne, THW Kiel and Füchse Berlin of all people could become the big beneficiaries in the exciting title fight of the Handball Bundesliga. “It creates a great emptiness in the entire team. We will carry this feeling with us for weeks and months and have many sleepless nights. It will be damn difficult to keep all goals going,” admitted Magdeburg coach Bennet Wiegert with tears in his eyes after the im Seven meter throw lost cup final.
However, the competition should not write off the master. “It takes time to process that. It’s mentally demanding. But it’s part of the sport to come back. What always distinguishes us at SC Magdeburg is that we give answers on the floor,” emphasized the heavy hit from the sporting and emotional blow struck Wiegert and added combatively: “Maybe it’s the oil that I need for my fire.”
Lions still with top games
Ironically, the proud cup winners could tip the scales in the title fight. The Mannheim team, who after four league defeats in a row are only in fifth place with 37:15 points, will be visiting second-placed Füchse Berlin next Sunday (41:9). Three days later, leaders THW Kiel (41:9) come to the Löwen, who also receive Magdeburg (41:11) in mid-May and have to play fourth-placed Flensburg (39:11) on the last day of the game.
Löwen coach Sebastian Hinze no longer counts on the third championship title after 2016 and 2017. “Of course, the two appearances at the Final4 give us a boost. But attacking again in the title race is absolutely unrealistic when we’re six points behind the leaders,” he said. “In the past few weeks we haven’t managed to stay in one position to be there at the end. What should happen with the program that we have left until the end of the season.”
“Only Grits Played”
National player Juri Knorr, who put in an outstanding performance both in the semi-final win against Flensburg and in the final against Magdeburg, also mourned a little at the moment of success at the missed title opportunity. “Unfortunately we’ve only played grits for the last three or four weeks,” said the 22-year-old.
While the lions can easily approach the next tasks thanks to the cup coup, the top quartet is under pressure. Already on Sunday there will be the next showdown between two title contenders at the 108th northern derby between Kiel and Flensburg. “That’s the absolute highlight,” said SG trainer Maik Machulla and emphasized with a view to the hot end of the season: “The title fight is completely different this year and so special because there are more than just two teams. Everyone has upgraded and the quality of becoming champions.”
