Henk Groener – coach, BV Borussia 09 Dortmund
On being in Graz:
“We are all very happy and very anxious awaiting tomorrow. We have worked hard, and came a long way. Especially our last match against Nantes was something I think nobody really expected., but we believed in it, we kept on fighting and in the end we got rewarded.”
On their fans:
“When we played against Nantes it was our home match, so there were a lot more spectators than there will be here. But we have a group of fans coming with us and they will be loud, I am sure, so they will support us. We’ll take that energy and put it in the game tomorrow.”
On their semi-final opponents, Nykøbing Falster Håndbold:
“Both teams I think are more or less an equal level of play. I’ve seen the games of them in the European League, I’ve seen some games in the Danish league. They have a good team: strong defence, good shooters in offence, good in the middle-centre back with [Kristina] Kristiansen, a good creative player; good goalkeeper. So it’ll be a tough match.”
Clara Woltering – goalkeeper coach, BV Borussia 09 Dortmund
On qualifying for the EHF Finals:
“It was tough matches, it was hard work, but in the end the team fought for it. We can be also really proud because we had good development in the season.”
On their defence and goalkeeping:
“Yara [ten Holte] played really well, but in the end it’s always a communication with the defence – defence and goalkeeper. This is also a really strong side for us. In the end we need to have a good defence and a good attack to play a really good match. At the end of course it will be really good if we have one more goal than Nykøbing.”
On being goalkeeper coach:
“I know finals and I love finals. I’m sure that I’m sitting on the bench and I’m like OK, come on girls, come on – it’s a lot of pure emotions. This is handball and you have that all the time in your life. For sure you will hear me on the bench that I’m screaming, that I try to help the team.
“It’s normal to be with 100 per cent of the heart at the game.”
On Yara ten Holte:
“I work now a long time with Yara and she’s a great personality and a great sportswoman. She is so motivated and she’s listening so much. She’s had a really great performance. At the end she’s a good teammate, and I like that she’s working really great with the team, with the other goalkeepers. For me this is also really important, at we have three goalkeepers and they are working together.”
Yara ten Holte – goalkeeper, BV Borussia 09 Dortmund
On their semi-final opponents, Nykøbing Falster Håndbold:
“They play a really fast handball, and this is the type of handball we really like. It’s going to be a really interesting game and in the end will be a close game, but our chances are good.”
On being nominated for an EHF Excellence Award:
“I was really surprised by the nomination, because wen you look at all the goalkeepers who are nominated I’m the youngest and there are some goalkeepers I look up to. I’m really proud to be between their names. I don’t expect anything but it’s already a really big honour to be nominated.”
On goalkeeping coach Clara Woltering:
“We have a really good relationship. I played one year with her and after that she became my goalkeeper trainer. We are really open in communication and about sharing our thoughts and improving the things I’m not that good at yet.”
