Göppingen (dpa / lsw) – Although the Bundesliga handball players from Frisch Auf Göppingen are in third place, new coach Markus Baur is convinced of his team. “Of course I know where we stand, but I’m not worried about that,” said the successor to Hartmut Mayerhoffer, who was released last week, in an interview with the “Stuttgarter Nachrichten” and the “Stuttgarter Zeitung” (Monday). “Regardless of the short-term programme, I’m convinced that the team has the quality not to have anything to do with relegation.”
At Baur’s debut, Göppingen scored a point against HSV Hamburg (26:26) thanks to an increase in performance in the second half. Before the World Cup begins in January, Frisch Auf will face Rhein-Neckar Löwen and champions SC Magdeburg away from home in the league, as well as TSV Hannover-Burgdorf at home.
For the 2007 world champion it’s all about gaining confidence before the break to attack afterwards. “We want to climb towards mid-table in the Bundesliga and if we reach the Final Four in the European League that would be a huge thing,” said the 51-year-old Baur. In the European competition, the Swabians will welcome the Kadetten Schaffhausen on Tuesday (8:45 p.m.).
