Champions League Men | 3 Dec 2013
Borussia still focused on the MECL title
Despite having 0-2 score in Group D of 2013/14 Men`s European Champions League, ten times European champion, Borussia Dusseldorf still believes that it can win the title again. In just one week, from December 6th to 13th, Timo BOLL & Co. will do their
Despite having 0-2 score in Group D of 2013/14 Men`s European Champions League, ten times European champion, Borussia Dusseldorf still believes that it can win the title again. In just one week, from December 6th to 13th, Timo BOLL & Co. will do their best to come back in the game for the crown. Good thing for them is that twice will play at home, first against SVS Niederosterreich (Borussia lost 2:3 in Round 1) and then Chartres (0:3, Round 2) arrives at Dusseldorf.
“On Friday we will play the first of two finals in group stage. To make sure to reach quarter finals we have to win against Niederösterreich and Chartres. But first of all we will bring the match against SVS into focus. We lost in Schwechat 2:3 and we know how difficult it will be to beat them. But I am sure that we are in better shape than three months ago. We will fight for our chance”, stressed coach Danny HEISTER.
Borussia is struggling with injuries in last two seasons and that was the main reason for poor start in new MECL edition. Christian SUSS has long time break, whilst Timo BOLL was not in his usual shape. Now, it looks like the team is getting good form, especially after last Sunday`s win against Werder Bremen (3:2) at Bundesliga.
“Our target is still to win the MECL title”, explains Borussia`s manager Andreas PREUSS. “We believe in our chance as well as the situation is not really good at the moment. Our concentration is in total on the game on Friday. Our victory against Bremen yesterday will boost us, too. Timo played very well, Patrick made a big point at 2:2 and Kamal was a great fighter once again.”
Sharat Kamal ACHANTA did big job in first game at Austria, beating CHEN Weixing 3:0. It`s clear that each set could be important for quarter final, and Borussia has had better set ratio (10-9) despite it lost 3:2. Indian emphasizes that his side is much better team than it was at the beginning of the season:
“We had bad luck at the beginning of the season with the injury of Christian SUSS and the problems of Timo BOLL. If your number one and two are missing it´s impossible for every club so stay as successful as you´d like to be. But in the meantime Timo is back and we are all playing on a higher level than at the beginning. Now our self-confidence is back. We are prepared for the match on Friday.”
Result of Round 1 (September 4th): Niederosterreich – Borussia 3:2, CHEN Weixing – Sharat Kamal ACHANTA 0:3 (6:11, 10:12, 10:12), LEUNG Chu Yan – Patrick BAUM 3:2 (6:11, 11:9, 9:11, 12:10, 11:7), Stefan FEGERL – Ricardo WALTHER 3:1 (14:16, 11:6, 11:9, 13:11), CHEN – BAUM 0:3 (8:11, 12:14, 5:11), LEUNG – ACHANTA 3:1 (11:7, 11:8, 6:11, 11:9).
