Champions League Men | 29 Jan 2014

SARAZIN: “In Vienna I had a dream”

French Angers created one of biggest sensations in Men’s European Champions League in last couple of years, eliminating the 2008 winner SVS Niederosterreich last weekend. Austrian champion was better in first quarter-final leg (3:2 in France), while Anger

“We played our match in Vienna like in a dream - Angers` president Gérard SARAZIN said – All happened as we wanted. First match Michel MARTINEZ, who likes to play against defender, beat CHEN Wexing 3:1 and then we knew that all is possible. So many trust for us and not for Niederosterreich…”

Angers did a big change in its line-up for the rematch. Usual no. 1 Panagiotis GIONIS, the bronze medalist from 2013 European Championships, has been posted on no. 3. Why, SARAZIN explains now…

“We thought that they didn’t imagine our position of players with GIONIS as no. 3, but knowing that he lost in first match against HABESOHN and CHEN Weixing, it was logical for us. And most we knew than Jens LUNQUIST was sure our best player for this match (because of way of play). We put him in strong position but it was no necessary because he beat HABESOHN 3:0 and then GIONIS could finish the match and beat FEGERL 3:0. We lost only one set! In Angers the score was a little hard for us because we lost twice 3:2 after leading 2:1 and we knew that everything is possible”.

Next opponent, in the MECL semis, is quite known. “Now we will play against a very strong French team Pontoise. They beat us 4:0 in national championship, so sure we are not favourites”, stressed Angers` president.