HSG Wetzlar is starting the Handball Bundesliga season against champions Magdeburg and wants to have a celebration day in front of millions of spectators. And make a start on the way to staying in the league.
Frank Carstens, coach of HSG Wetzlar. Image © Imago Images
Audio contribution
Audio 01:44 min.|05.09.24|Carsten Schellhorn
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The start of the season couldn’t be more complicated, but it couldn’t be simpler either. The Bundesliga handball players of HSG Wetzlar have nothing to lose on Saturday (6 p.m./live on Das Erste). They will face – and that is probably no exaggeration – “the toughest possible opponent in European handball,” as Wetzlar’s managing director Björn Seipp says. Or Frank Cartens, the coach: “This is one of the temples of European handball. For me, these are days of celebration.”
At the start of the league, the Hessians will face none other than SC Magdeburg, the German champions of 2022 and 2024, the Champions League winners of 2023. Although the Saxony-Anhalt team has some injury concerns and recently lost the Supercup against Füchse Berlin (30:32), they are the clear favorites.
“Magdeburg is always difficult, no matter when you play against them. To have such a highlight at the start of the season, and then in front of an audience of millions on ARD, is what every handball player dreams of,” said club boss Seipp to hr-sport.
Patience with “talented team”
From the perspective of the Central Hesse team, the preparation was mixed. The defense in particular had holes. “Many things are not working the way the coaches want them to,” says Seipp, who is not nervous about it. “We have a talented team. That’s why it’s important that we are patient and give the team time to develop. They will play to their potential – the only question is how long it will take.”
Coach Carstens argues along similar lines and believes his team is definitely on the right track. “I really can’t complain about the commitment and inspiration.” An important criterion if we want to move forward.
Many changes in important positions
Especially since the changes at Wetzlar are anything but small. The HSG has replaced almost half of its team. Lenny Rubin, one of the best goal scorers, moved to Stuttgart. Magnus Fredriksen, Emil Mellegard and Hendrik Wagner also left the Central Hesse team. Next summer, Domen Novak will also join SG Flensburg-Handewitt.
In contrast, Hanau-born Philipp Ahouansou (Rhein-Neckar Löwen) stands out from the many new players; the backcourt player made an excellent impression during the preparation. “We have seven new players,” says coach Carstens, so the development must take place during the ongoing game.
Relegation is the declared goal
With a budget of 4.25 million euros, the HSG ranks in the bottom third of the Bundesliga. Of course, they still want to avoid relegation, which is the declared minimum goal of the team that finished 13th in the table last year, “the basis”, as the coach calls it.
But, says managing director Seipp: “The Bundesliga is not waiting for us, so we have to consolidate ourselves quickly.” The best way to do that is with a good performance against the strongest team in Germany, perhaps even Europe, SC Magdeburg.
