Champions League Men | 23 Feb 2019
Fakel Gazprom targets new TTCLM finals
Coach Vladimir ENDOLOV speaks on the upcoming semi-finals against Angers
Fakel Gazprom Orenburg is determined to reach its eight TTCLM finals in last nine seasons, but they have to beat Vaillante Sports Anters in order to achieve it. Russian club defeated two-time TTCLM winner AS Pointoise Cergy in the quarter-finals with an excellent team work, as coach Vladimir ENDOLOV stressed:
“The quarter-final leg 2 with the French club AS Pontoise Cergy TT in Orenburg was held in a tense and interesting struggle but under the dictation of our team. Confident and powerful table tennis, which demonstrated OVTCHAROV and SAMSONOV, brought the club the planned victory. Our opponent in the semifinals is another French club VS Angers TT.”
Angers overcame SPG Walter Wels in the previous round, to match its best ever TTCLM result (semi-finals), while Orenburg’aim is to improve its record to five TTCLM crowns.
“Angers is a very strong team with high-level table tennis players. All our players are very seriously preparing for the upcoming matches. We believe in the victory of our team and will do everything to reach the finals of the European Champions League”, stated coach ENDOLOV.
First semi-final leg will be held on March 8thin France, while the second game is scheduled for March 22nd. In the other semis, reigning champion and 11-time TTCLM winner Borussia Dusseldorf faces 2012 runner-up UMMC.
