Before the game against Gummersbach : Füchse Berlin-it is A question of mentality

Apart from his long hair, Mattias Zachrisson is at first glance an inconspicuous type: 1,78 metres tall, 86 pounds, no large Tattoos, or other identifying characteristics. For a basketball professional, the Swede is almost too small – and yet, he belongs with his versatility, Yes, with his strong fighting spirit and its toxicity to the category of those players you love as a teammate and as an opponent hates.

"If it had been up to wave, he would have played on Thursday in the European Cup again," says Velimir Petkovic, the coach of Füchse Berlin, about his long-term injured left-handed. In the EHF-Cup game at the Hungarian representative Balantonfüredi (29:24) has waived the foxes Coach, however, for safety's sake, to allow Zachrisson a Comeback. "We wanted to give him just a few more days and no risk," says Petkovic. This Sunday it is now so far: If the Füchse Berlin on 21. Bundesliga-round welcome VfL Gummersbach (16 at Max-Schmeling-Halle and live on Sky), is allowed to play do Zachrisson back to what he does best: basketball.

foxes-the sports Director of the Zerbe warns against the next opponent

From the point of view of the foxes, it could hardly be a better time for the return of a mentality a player like Zachrisson. Last open Berlin's unusual weaknesses revealed in the emotional sphere; Coach Petkovic was in the "time-outs" significantly louder than usual and criticised the attitude of his players. Volker Zerbe, the usually restrained Athletic Director of the club, chose harsh words: "We have dissolved our task, but a real step in the right direction this was not yet," said Zerbe, after the Europa Cup game on Thursday. "Especially with the chances we have to improve," he added.

Against VfL Gummersbach speaks, at least, the statistics for the Berlin, who decided to have their last three games against the traditional club from North Rhine-Westphalia. Also, this time you go in as a clear favourite in the game, especially since the Gummersbach with a similar injury have to fight worries such as Berlin in the first half of the season. "In the world Cup break, we were only eight, nine people, although we had to leave, no national players for the tournament," said VfL-goalkeeper Carsten Lichtlein. Among other things, threatened gummersb missing the descent Achern furthermore, a man who has made his exchange in Berlin earned: backcourt player Drago Vukovic.

Handball foxes their second Russian to win a Cup game in Hungary

Still, the foxes-the sports Director of the Zerbe warns against the next opponent: "it will be a difficult task, we have to address very focused." Further defeats in the Bundesliga would be the internal climate at the foxes out of the equation.