Raiffeisen Bank EHF FINAL4 flash quotes: Friday 5 June
BUDAPEST - Comments from players and coaches at media calls on Friday at the team hotel, ahead of the Raiffeisen Bank EHF FINAL4 2026 semi-finals.
Györi Audi ETO KC
Anna Lagerquist (SWE) – line player
On retiring after the Raiffeisen Bank EHF FINAL4:
"I feel right now like I'm just more focused on the games, but I think in the back of my head I know it's my last two games. But I try to focus more on being here in the moment, and I'm sure maybe on Sunday the feelings will come even more.
“I think I just try to be here in the moment, like I said, and to just enjoy this last weekend and hopefully get the best weekend and the best end of this season and the career in the [best] possible way."
On being the favourites at the EHF FINAL4 and the possibility of making the fans happy for one last time:
"That is a big dream. It would be amazing and I think also seeing how our team has fought really hard this season and worked, like all the hard work we have put in, it would be amazing if we could once again lift the trophy and to get the good finish of this season. We will do everything we can this weekend, and it would of course be an amazing ending."
On the support from the stands from the Györ fans:
"We always feel the support of our fans, especially at home in our arena, but also on every away game we have amazing fans who show up every game. And I think also this weekend there will be a lot of green jerseys in the audience.
“We are so grateful and thankful for our fans and they're always supporting us. And of course, we also want to give back to them and give back to ourselves also for this season. We want to go for three out of three trophies."
On her support:
"I have family and friends coming, so it will be nice also to know that they are up there, cheering and supporting, and also to share this moment, the last moment in the career."
METZ HANDBALL
Sarah Bouktit (FRA) - line player
On making the EHF FINAL4 again:
“It’s the third year in a row for the club, so that shows that we’re one of the best clubs in Europe and that we can be counted among the best clubs in the Champions League.”
On their season:
“In the past few years we’ve also had great seasons with very few defeats, but in the end we finished fourth. It gives us confidence because we won big matches, but we can’t rely too much on that because we know it’s always different when we’re here.”
On their semi-final opponents, CSM Bucuresti:
“They’re a very good team who had a difficult start to the season, but after they changed their coach they became a more formidable team and barely lost a match. I think it will really be a huge match, they’re a great semi-final opponent, like everyone in the Champions League.
“I don’t think there’s a favourite, it will be 50:50.”
On whether they think about the previous years’ defeats in Budapest:
“A little bit, because we want to get past the semi-finals and it’s already been four times that we’ve failed.
“But it’s a different year, we’ve totally changed the team, so we’ll try to get past it and tell ourselves it’s different.”
On whether having two French teams in the Raiffeisen Bank EHF FINAL4 adds something extra:
“We’re happy if we pass them in the corridor, because they’re friends or mates, but honestly on the court, French or not, that doesn’t change anything. We want to win in any event.”
Johanna Bundsen (SWE) – goalkeeper
On being one of the most experienced players within the squad, but also a debutant at the EHF FINAL4:
"For me it's my first time at the FINAL4, so I'm not so experienced about this, but I'm just trying to be me and to do what I'm good at. Just to try and have this calmness in me somehow, and I will not change who I'm just because of this weekend. I'm still the same person and the same goalkeeper, I will just try to be here with my other experiences and try to enjoy the time with my team."
On being a dream come true to be at the EHF FINAL4:
"It’s always been a dream to play the FINAL4, so it's a dream come true for me, but I'm not happy with just being here, as I want to perform and play good handball and to play for these medals. I'm really excited about what's coming over the next two days."
On playing the last two matches in Metz's shirt:
"Right now, I'm not thinking about that these will be my last matches with Metz, I'm just trying to enjoy the moment, be here and play handball. For me, it's more about performing and hopefully playing good and we will see how far that goes."
On her quality season on a personal level:
"I'm very happy to be at Metz Handball since the season didn't start as we expected, but it turn out to be a good solution for me and I'm very happy for being here and to experience a new league in France. I'm actually really happy with the season and I want to end it in a good way also."
