Champions League Men | 1 Sep 2014

PALINA: “Champions but not favorites”

“We wish all teams a nice, exciting matches, friendly atmosphere during all season”, stressed first of allBerlin’s coach Irina PALINA announcing the 2014/15 Women’s European Champions League, which starts this Friday. Eight clubs will compete again,

“We wish all teams a nice, exciting matches, friendly atmosphere during all season”, stressed first of allBerlin’s coach Irina PALINA announcing the 2014/15 Women’s European Champions League, which starts this Friday. Eight clubs will compete again, divided in two groups, and everybody will try to beat TTC Berlin Eastside, the club who collected all possible trophies in last season: WECL, German League and German Cup.

“We start new season as a champion, but we are very realistic and we understand that we are not a favorite”, says PALINA.

The team made just one change in the best four players. Petrissa SOLJA came from double WECL champion Linz AG Froschberg instead of Irene IVANCAN who moved to Fenerbahce. It means thatBerlincontinues as „German national team”, having two more host players, SHAN Xiaona and Kristin SILBEREISEN, plus Hungarian Georgina POTA.

Berlin was not considered as favorite in previous edition, but managed to overcame no. 1 seed Fenerbahce in the final. Turkish side is again has the best ranking, playing in Group A alongside SVNO STROCK, KTS Spar Zamek and Szekszard AC. Berlin will fight for best two spots in Group B, which leads to the semifinal, against Linz AG Froschberg, Metz TT and Postas Sport.

“For qualified to semifinal or final we have to fight against each team in the group. I hope our girls are ready for this. In this season they already played qualification to Final 4 of German Cup, which will be inBerlinin January and Czech Pro-tour. Regarding WECL, we start on Friday against Postas fromHungary”, concluded Irina PALINA.