The SG Flensburg-Handewitt has successfully completed its first of three European trips into the unknown. It was a tight affair at Irudek Bidasoa Irun. The sound bites.
Aleš Pajović, SG Coach: "I'm satisfied with the two points, but not with the game. Irun made it difficult for us and we weren't one hundred percent there. We lost our focus a bit, made too many unnecessary mistakes and missed a few too many chances. In the end, we showed character. I'm really pleased that we stuck together in a difficult phase of the game and got the points. Tomorrow we have a trip and then we look ahead to the home game against Erlangen. We really want two points before the international break."
Johannes Golla, SG captain: "We struggled right from the start. It's always difficult to play against a team you only know from videos. We had our problems both in defense and in offense. When we did get clear chances, we missed them too often. We didn't manage to help our goalkeepers enough. Irun made good use of our short-handedness. So it was a tight game right to the end. We can be proud of our morale. The important thing is that we stay at the top of the table. At the end of the year, nobody will be asking how we got the points."
Emil Jakobsen, SG left wing: "We lacked a bit of rhythm in the first half-time. The start of the second half wasn't good either. But we showed good morale in the end. It also speaks for quality when you don't put in a good performance and still win. Our fast play worked well in the end, it was more difficult in the first half because we were often outnumbered. That's when you lose confidence in your game."