Champions League Men | 2 Apr 2015

WECL ultimate showdown in Istanbul

Turkish champion managed to outdo two times WECL champion in the first final clash held in Austria three weeks ago, but everybody agree that nothing is decided yet! Fenerbahce is convinced that 3:2 victory should be enough for its very first title, whilst

Turkish champion managed to outdo two times WECL champion in the first final clash held in Austria three weeks ago, but everybody agree that nothing is decided yet! Fenerbahce is convinced that 3:2 victory should be enough for its very first title, whilst Linz AG Froschberg believes that their players are still capable to rewrite WECL history, becoming the very first club crowned three times. However, everything will be clear after the final showdown in Istanbul this Saturday (12h00 CET, live and free on LAOLA1.tv).

“I think we have big advantage for the second match, we are  closer to the trophy now, but of course it will be very difficult match as the first leg. My players should forget first match and fight as they did in Linz. We can`t think about first leg result and calculate in our home game, because otherwise we will lose our concentration”, speaks Fenerbahce`s manager Gurhan YALDIZ.

Linz`s President Gunther RENNER recalled on some good memories in the WECL, when his side managed to compensate 3:2 defeat from the 1st final leg. “We hope that the good result from the home game helps us. We could reach our first WECL title after losing 2009 the home match against Kroppach with 2:3. We are not frightened before the game because we know that the result will be skin-tight at the end. We need a good day, and a strong performance, but we trust in our players, they can deliver extraordinary performances on days like next Saturday. It`s the Final, the pressure has left our players because the home game was a success for the whole Club. We can only win now, and Fenerbahce has the same duty to win like we had against Budaörsi Budapest in 2013. We know how hard it is to have an easy walk over”.

YALDIZ is aware that the big pressure could be a major setback for the host team, but he has no doubt that his girls are able to outstrip Froschberg. His team had bad memories from the last season`s final, when they surprisingly lost from Berlin, although they were no. 1 seed and big favorite for the title. “Of course we have serious risk because we will play in our hall and with our spectators and together with all table tennis world. That’s why we`ll be little under the stress and pressure. This time we are very close to win and we do not want to lose this Cup one more time. Good luck to both teams”.

Linz`s players had no solution for world`s no. 7 WU Yang in the first match. Chinese won both her encounters in straight games. “It will be tough, but everything will be decided mentally, it`s hard to say who can have advantages in the game, but Fenerbahce will be shaky if we gain the lead in the game.”,explained LIU Jia who took both Froschberg`s WECL titles (2009, 2013).

The Coach of Austrian side BIAN Ya Dong no feels pressure at all: “We already reached our season goal, but we want to win in Istanbul”.

WECL final, leg2

Fenerbahce Sport Club – Linz AG Froschberg (April 4th, 12h00 CET)

WECL final, leg1

Linz AG Froschberg – Fenerbahce Sport Club 2:3
LI Xiaodan – Irene IVANCAN 3:1 (9:11, 11:8, 11:9, 11:4)
Sofia POLCANOVA – WU Yang 0:3 (10:12, 10:12, 2:11)
LIU Jia – Elisabeta SAMARA 3:2 (9:11, 11:9, 11:6, 11:13, 11:7)
LI Xiaodan – WU Yang 0:3 (10:12, 6:11, 6:11)
Sofia POLCANOVA – Irene IVANCAN 2:3 (11:7, 9:11, 11:8, 4:11, 3:11)

Alex MILETIC, EWT, Alex MILETIC, EWT

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