The first Bundesliga defeat in 331 days did not surprise coach Bennet Wiegert of SC Magdeburg. The 29:31 at THW Kiel was therefore not the end of the world. "Of course, I would have liked to have pulled it back a little and tweaked the series a bit more. But SC Magdeburg shouldn't make a name for itself with series and successes, but with the work behind them. We handled this series very humbly. It came from the outside that SC Magdeburg would not lose a game. I wasn't scared after the defeat, because none of us can walk on water," said Wiegert in a press conference.
He has already analyzed the game. Wiegert has also noted the fact that they were once again unable to convert three seven-meter penalties - five in the draw against Kiel in the first leg. "I know that our statistics have dropped from around 80 percent last season to around 70 percent. That can't be argued away. Nevertheless, it's not on my top three list of things to work on. Technical and tactical things are more important to me," said the coach of the Bundesliga leaders.
Possibility of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals early
SCM already has the opportunity to make up for Kiel's defeat in the Champions League at home to Danish top club GOG Håndbold on Wednesday. "Our goal before the season was to finish the Champions League group stage in first or second place and go straight through to the quarter-finals," said Wiegert, whose team is still unbeaten in the top flight and can achieve its goal early with just one point.
"If we can do it now, what are we waiting for? It's our culture that we want to keep winning games, even if we're guaranteed one of the top two places. That's why nothing changes," emphasized the coach of the Champions League winners.
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