Champions League Men | 2 Sep 2014

Timo BOLL focused on MECL

The most decorated European clubs ever, Borussia Dusseldorf opens new Men’s European Champions League season this Friday at Dusseldorf, against Polish champion Bogoria Grodzisk (Group D, 19h00 CET, live on LAOLA1.tv). It should be encounter without secrets, knowing how many times they met in last few seasons. In last two editions ten-time champion of Old Continent disappointed their fans (once were beaten in group stage exactly by Bogoria), but now as no. 2 seed they will try to come back on the top.

“One big goal this season is to win European Champions League. Last three years we´ve been unlucky after three ECL-victories in a row 2009-2011. Now we´ve got a very strong group with Bogoria, Hennebont and Wels. Therefore it´s our mission in the first half of the season to win our group and to reach the quarter finals”, stressed Borussia`s manager Andreas PREUß.

After three MECL titles in a row (2009-11) Borussia was faced with several problems with injuries (Christian SUSS, Timo BOLL…) so coach Danny HAISTER was forced to change the line-up many times. That is the reason why great Timo BOLL is careful speaking about the club`s aims in new season. “If our team will be free of injuries and illness I think we are one of the favourites in this MECL. We´ve got two new, strong players with Panos (Panagiotis GIONIS) and Patrick (FRANZISKA), we´ve got a very good team spirit and we are all focused on MECL. We will do everything to win the most important title in Europe again”, says six times individual European champion who lost one game from Bogoria`s OH Sang Eun two seasons ago.

Borussia`s coach Danny HEISTER added: “We had a good start in German Bundesliga TTBL with our 3:0 victory against Frickenhausen and I hope that this match will give us self-confidence for the upcoming games. Bogoria with OH, GORAK, FLORAS and FERTIKOWSKI is hard to beat as we know from the past. But it´s very important to start successful in ECL because of the strength of our group. I think if our players are in good shape we will win this first ECL-match.”

Alex MILETIC, EWT, Alex MILETIC, EWT