Handball – the foxes Berlin chase new titles with “new menatlity”

World handball player Mathias Gidsel (left) could hardly be kept by Kielce with Theo Mornar.

Photo: Imago/Contrast

Talant Dujshebaev would like to be in Berlin more often. The business trip with his handball players from the KielCe ended on Wednesday evening disappointing: At 37:37, the Poles failed to catch up with the gap of six goals from the first leg against the Foxes Berlin, and had to say goodbye to the Champions League. When the trainer later talked about the opponent, he did this with a smile. The nice thing was to see Mathias Gidsel Live playing, here you could do that every week, said Dujshebaev in the catacombs of the Max-Schmeling-Halle and continued: “He is the best player in the world.”

The 56-year-old knows what he is talking about: in 1994 and 1996 he was recognized as a world handball player. When Gidsel received this honor for 2024 a week ago, he succeeded in unique – the Dane was the first field player to be the best in the world twice in a row.

The hardest game

Gidsel provided a further proof of his exceptional position against Kielce. After the game, he said: “That was the hardest game of my life.” In the ranks of the opponent, the oldest son Alex was not only the playful third of the current world handball election, but also the force of some uncompromising power packages. When asked about the Polish hardness, Berlin’s playmaker Nils Lichtlein later said: “Unlike in the first leg in Kielce, the referees at least tried to go through.” Despite all the coarse resistance, Gidsel was again by far the best thrower with twelve goals.

After 13 years, the foxes have now reached the quarter -finals of the Champions League and meet the Danes from Aalborg there. “An expensive success bought,” said Berlin coach Jaron Siewert. With Fabian Wiede and Tim Freihofer, the foxes lost two players in the wear struggle with Kielce. If you can play on Saturday, Siewert didn’t know yet. If necessary, he had to recruit the youth in order to be able to go to Erlangen with as many players as possible. There it goes against the penultimate table on matchday 25 Lace position in the Bundesliga to defend.

Against the wall

Siewert rated the progress after the 33:27 first leg victory in Poland as “deserved”. With a view to the coming game, the Berlin coach was pleased to “remain positive with the draw against Kielce”. Again not lost. This has been possible for nine games. And that gives strength that it takes to also exist against Erlangen’s handball players who maintain a similarly hard style as Kielce. In this regard, Siewert then took a little further. It was about Gidsel. “At the beginning of his time in Berlin, Mathias was warned not to fall too often,” the coach recalled. The perception of the 1.90 meter -tall left -hander in the Bundesliga has changed quickly. Soon everyone knew: Gidsel is truly not a swallow king – but is often only to be defended with unfair measures. Therefore, Siewert demands protection: “If we want to keep the best players in the Bundesliga, we must not let them drive against the wall.”

Nd.Diewoche – Our weekly newsletter

With our weekly newsletter . We’re Doing Look at the most important topics of the week and read them Highlights our Saturday edition on Friday. Get the free subscription here.

The battered self was in a good mood. “Yes, that’s quite good,” Gidsel was even happy that the Berliners are no longer in the DHB Cup. The lack of the final Four on April 12th and 13th brings the foxes some rest after the game in Erlangen. “Finally a break again,” said Gidel and laughed. Because competitive games like the two against Kielce or in the 33:30 win in Magdeburg are also mentally stressful. In Erlangen the fifth game is due within two weeks, after which the foxes are looking forward to ten game -free days.

Play on the brink

The physical stress was hardly noticeable shortly after the end of the game, the 26-year-old said of the psychological stress: “Shortly before the end, we are back with four goals, you have a lot of thoughts in your head.” The game against Kielce was on the brink several times; Most of the time it was Gidsel who relaxed the situation with his goals again. It was particularly critical in the 54th minute: Kielce leads with 35:31 with its own ball possession. And the Berliners? “We’ll stay cool!” Said Gidel.

To win many close games, according to Gidsel, of a “new mentality in the club”. This is also the case with the quarter -finals of the premier class and the top position in the Bundesliga. These two titles have never won the foxes – it seems possible with Gidsel. The Dane plays in Berlin in his third year. The club has never been as close to the championship as during this time: third two years ago, second ago. And now? Gidsel has “a good feeling”.

sbobet88 sbobet88 judi bola sbobet

By adminn