Mark Lebedew: "We will be ready!"

At long last, the wait is over: The European Volleyball elite meets this weekend at the Champions League Final Four tournament at the Berlin Max-Schmeling-Halle. The capitals representatives are making final preparations, the excitement couldn't grow any bigger. Just before the tournament starts we talked to BR Volleys Coach Mark Lebedew about the strong competition, his team's strength and their goal for the final weekend.

Mark, we’ve all been waiting impatiently for the Final Four weekend, and now it’s finally here. On each of both tournament days more than 10.000 spectators are expected at the Max-Schmeling-Halle. How big is the anticipation for the event?

Mark Lebedew: The Final Four has always been something rather distant in the future, that was not really palpable until now. But this week last preparations have been made, and you can see the excitement growing. During these last days we focused completely on this weekend and are happy, that the moment, we have been working for so intensively, has finally arrived. We are ready!

The Final Four is the climax of the international season, the participating teams are the best European volleyball clubs. Who’s going to win in your opinion?

Mark Lebedew: I share the general press’ point of view; I believe Kazan is going to win the tournament. The Russians have their best players on all positions. I see their biggest advantage in attacking, with Mikhailov, Anderson, and Leon Kazan has three utterly top-players in their rows. In Addition to that, they have a broad squad. Even if we have a good run and are perhaps some points ahead, there’s the danger of someone from the bench getting into the game who’s as good as the other but has a better day. Nevertheless: I think nobody is unbeatable. We are looking forward to the semi-final match, it’ll be an exciting duel.     

Compared to the other teams our team didn’t have to qualify and goes as the underdog into the tournament besides the strong Russians and Polish. How else can Berlin score?

Lebedew: Our biggest strength is our team spirit. Teams like Kazan might have the best individual players but through our closeness we have already achieved a lot in the past. A key position is the blocking defence, the longer the rallies last, the stronger we are. Once we get to this point we stand a real chance against every opponent.

What does the team want to achieve this weekend?

Lebedew: We are not necessarily entering the tournament with the goal to win a medal. Of course we’ll do our best to beat the other participants but on that level it’s just impossible to control that. To a large extent the shape you’re in on that day is the deciding factor. What we can influence is the way we go into the game. We have to be self confident and concentrated. We plan to do our best and give everything.

All information about the CEV Champions League Final Four from March 28-29 in Berlin:

Website | www.berlin2015.br-volleys.de

Facebook | www.facebook.com/CLfinal4

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