French Angers created one of biggest sensations in Menโs European Champions League in last couple of years, eliminating the 2008 winner SVS Niederosterreich last weekend. Austrian champion was better in first quarter-final leg (3:2 in France), while Anger,
French Angers created one of biggest sensations in Menโs European Champions League in last couple of years, eliminating the 2008 winner SVS Niederosterreich last weekend. Austrian champion was better in first quarter-final leg (3:2 in France), while Angers answered by 3:0 win at Schwechat near Vienna.
โWe played our match in Vienna like in a dream –ย Angers` president Gรฉrard SARAZIN said โ All happened as we wanted. First match Michel MARTINEZ, who likes to play against defender, beat CHEN Wexing 3:1 and then we knew that all is possible. So many trust for us and not for Niederosterreichโฆโ
Angers did a big change in its line-up for the rematch. Usual no. 1 Panagiotis GIONIS, the bronze medalist from 2013 European Championships, has been posted on no. 3. Why, SARAZIN explains nowโฆ
โWe thought that they didnโt imagine our position of players with GIONIS as no. 3, but knowing that he lost in first match against HABESOHN and CHEN Weixing, it was logical for us. And most we knew than Jens LUNQUIST was sure our best player for this match (because of way of play). We put him in strong position but it was no necessary because he beat HABESOHN 3:0 and then GIONIS could finish the match and beat FEGERL 3:0. We lost only one set! In Angers the score was a little hard for us because we lost twice 3:2 after leading 2:1 and we knew that everything is possibleโ.
Next opponent, in the MECL semis, is quite known. โNow we will play against a very strong French team Pontoise. They beat us 4:0 in national championship, so sure we are not favouritesโ, stressed Angers` president.
The 2013/14 MECL semi-finals will be held on March 7-9th and 21-23rd.ย
