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HC Alkaloid achieved its objective and, with two victories over Austria’s West Wien, advanced to the Round of 16 in the EHF European Cup. Following the second match at the Avtokomanda arena, which ended 32-29 in favor of our team, a press conference was held featuring representatives from both clubs.

Kiril Lazarov, Head Coach of HC Alkaloid: “Our main objective was to secure a spot in the next round, and we delivered. We faced a talented and youthful Austrian team that demonstrated a modern, relentless style of play, fighting until the very last whistle. I respect their mentality — despite an 11-goal deficit from the first leg, they never backed down. Across both matches, I ensured all our players got time on the court. While I knew we had the edge in experience and overall quality, we took some calculated risks to assess our squad’s depth. That said, I’m not entirely pleased with the performance of certain players. We need to work harder, and everyone must realize that we need to break away from old habits if we’re to reach the level I envision as a coach and that we, as HC Alkaloid, aim to achieve. I am concerned because tougher matches lie ahead. As for our next round, I don’t know all the names of the potential opponents. Among those listed, the Scandinavian teams are unknown to us, and I would prefer to avoid Olympiacos, but we’ll see when the full list is available.”

Ivan Galevski, HC Alkaloid player: “This was an incredible experience for us. We faced an excellent team. Playing two matches against the same opponent within 24 hours is not easy. We came off a tough week in the domestic championship, but thanks to the staff, we were well-prepared for West Wien. We had a big task, and we’re thrilled with two wins, advancing to the next round of the EHF European Cup.”

Roland Marouschek, Head Coach of West Wien: “I would like to thank HC Alkaloid for the excellent hospitality in Skopje. We are happy to have been here; this was a great experience and memorable journey for our team. We have a young team and are heading home with a sense of satisfaction. Congratulations to our opponent, Alkaloid, who proved to be the stronger side. I wish them success in the next round. Considering the quality of the teams, we had a good second match. We are a young team; this was a lesson for us. Last year, we played in the second division and made it to Europe by winning the Austrian Cup. These matches were a valuable experience for us.”

Paul Pfeifer, West Wien player: “The coach summed it up perfectly. We made too many errors in the attack during the first match, which really hurt our chances. The opponent built a significant lead in the opening minutes, but we showed significant improvement in the second game. Our defense tightened, and we didn’t allow our opponent to score easy goals. Playing against a more experienced team was a great learning experience for us.”

The draw for the Round of 16 in the EHF European Cup is scheduled for December 3. The matches in this stage will take place in mid and late February 2025.