It All Depends on How They Play Today: SCM Aims to Turn Things Around Against Kiel

Coach Bennet Wiegert of handball champions SC Magdeburg is full of anticipation ahead of Wednesday’s big match against record champions THW Kiel. “I think I would have bought a ticket for this game myself if I didn’t already have the best seat in the arena,” Wiegert said during a press conference. However, his team is under pressure. Magdeburg hasn’t beaten the North Germans in six games.

Wiegert can’t pinpoint any specific reasons. “If I knew that, we would surely have figured it out by now. Maybe it’s the black-and-white color of the jersey,” the coach said with a wink. In his opinion, THW is doing a few things right against SCM. “Now I hope we can finally turn things around in the home game,” Wiegert emphasized. The team that’s ready to give it their all on the court has the best chance of success. “How we play on the day will be the deciding factor,” said Wiegert.

Antonio Serradilla, who tends to fly a bit under the radar, could play a decisive role, according to the coach. The Spaniard, who is primarily used on defense, was named “Player of the Match” in the game against Bietigheim, scoring five goals on the counterattack. “This is how I see him: defense and fast-break play. The fact that he scored five fast-break goals is fantastic. He would have been ‘Player of the Match’ for me even without those five goals, because he defended well, made good steals, and gave our defense stability. That’s what he’s there for,” praised former pro Wiegert.