cool. There will be no Swedish player in the Champions League final.
Niklas Ekberg agent lost the semi-final against Barcelona.
– It’s so damn good. I gave my worst game of the season in such an important game, says Ekberg after 30-34 (18-19).
Two Swedish players played in the semi-finals of the European Handball Champions League.
But no one will play the final tomorrow.
First, Andreas Nilsson lost with his team Veszprem against Kelsey and then became a travel pass for Niklas Akberg In Kiel in the giant’s meeting with Barcelona.
Ekberg had a heavy evening. He admitted he scored 1-0 after half a minute and then another match before the break before entering a penalty kick in the 34th minute.
But beyond that, the infamous goal machine missed two penalties and three more shots in good positions in the match.
– It’s so damn good. I played my worst game of the season in such an important game. It’s sad, says the depressed 33-year-old.
I think I should be much better in such an important match. He sighs that the sport is so hard sometimes.
seat – for extraordinary
Barcelona were an obvious favourites ahead of the match, at least since Kiel’s key players in recent weeks, Sander Sagosin and Hendrik Beckler, have been injured. When goalkeeper Niklas Landen had a tough time in an important match, he rose up against Barcelona with a stunning display in the squad.
Ten minutes into the second, the Spaniards made a small shock and then kept at least one lead by two goals, which was up to five goals at most.
– I’m proud of the team. We’ve been fighting for 60 minutes and even though the match is over we showed once again the character of this team and what we stand for. But I am very disappointed by my own efforts, says Ekberg.
In the end, he was replaced, which is not really common when Kiel plays the best matches.
Why didn’t it work?
– Sometimes there are trolls in it. Then it is important to fight and try and not give up. I play my game until it is exchanged and I did it today.
Ekberg scored many important goals for Barcelona and Spain goalkeeper Gonzalo Perez de Vargas, as the decisive last seconds of the 2016 Olympics qualifiers and the final of the 2022 European Championship.
Did he have the upper hand today?
– He’s got it so well. I missed the goal twice too and it shouldn’t happen. You have to hit the target, says Ekberg.
He meets his old rival again
But we still have a Swedish player in the Champions League final: Barcelona assistant coach Thomas Svensson.
The match against Kelsey will be Svenson’s ninth final, and his first as a coach. He won his first six finals as a goalkeeper in Bidasoa (1995) and Barcelona (1996-00) before losing to Barcelona (2001) and Portland San Antonio (2006).
– Kelsey is the only team that beat us twice this year. Svensson says they have an equal team, a broad squad and are hard to beat.
The final also means that Svensson will once again face Kiel Talant boss Dutjebagev. They have met countless times since the late 1980s – in the national team, the Spanish League and the Champions League, as players and coaches.
Do you have a long history?
It’s all life, it’s all life.
