After the week of international matches, the SG Flensburg-Handewitt players must immediately switch back to club mode in order not to miss an important match. Tomorrow, Wednesday, they face TVB Stuttgart for a place in the quarter-finals of the DHB Cup. Kick-off is at 8 pm.
No fewer than eight SG professionals have been with their national teams over the past week, while the others have completed several training sessions in the Duburghalle or in the gym. Aleš Pajović has already found time to prepare for the next phase of the season. "If I just look at the next four weeks," says the SG coach. "There are a hell of a lot of tough tasks ahead." It starts with the cup round of 16 in Stuttgart. A game that has to be mastered in fast motion. Only on Monday did everyone come together again. However, training was individualized due to the different workloads over the last few days. This Tuesday morning was dominated by video and tactical discussions. Tomorrow, Wednesday, the SG squad will fly from Sonderborg to Stuttgart - and not alone. THW Kiel will also be on board. As the "Zebras" have to play in Balingen at almost the same time, a joint charter plane was the obvious choice to save time and money. "That's the perfect solution at this moment," says Aleš Pajović. He makes no secret of the fact that the gap between the recent international matches and the round of 16 in the DHB Cup is too short for him.
Unfinished business
TVB Stuttgart have just four points to their name in the DAIKIN HBL. Apart from the cup win at third-division side Emsdetten, they only managed to get the full haul against Bergischer HC. The club from southern Germany drew in the derby against Göppingen - and also in Flensburg. It was on the second matchday when the SG had to settle for a 29:29 draw. The TVB tactics with four backcourt players and the many one-on-ones caused the SG problems at the time. Their recent form clearly spoke in favor of a successful revenge. "We had a run," said Aleš Pajović. "But after a longer break, as a coach you worry whether it will continue like that." Some brief personnel news: Lukas Jørgensen has benefited from match practice with the Danish national team, youngster Thilo Knutzen is traveling to Stuttgart and there is hope that Luca Witzke will be able to play again very soon.