Last year they won everything – now experts think the Vipers are even better – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio

– It is always difficult to say that you will be the favorite in the Champions League. They are a ready Final four team. And they have shown in the last two seasons that when they get to that weekend in Budapest, they win, says TV 2’s handball expert Bent Svele. On Thursday, the Vipers open the series away to Larvik in the women’s elite series. But on 10 September, what is the big goal for the team from Kristiansand starts; Champions League. Other types of players – I think the Vipers have made some good signings before this year’s season. They look at least as good as when they won last year. Maybe even a little better, says Svele. – They are replacing Nora Mørk with someone who is at least as good. At her best, perhaps Vyakhireva is even better, believes Svele Bent Svele (left) in a familiar pose, together with Harald Bredeli during a handball broadcast on TV 2. Photo: Vidar Ruud / NTB He also believes that the newcomers are different types to those who have left further. – Vyakhireva and Roberts are two of the best dueling players in the world. They give Vipers more opportunities, and they can create more superiority with such players in the team, says Svele. Herrem is looking forward Another one who is looking forward to this year’s Champions League season is Sola player Camilla Herrem. She is always glued to the screen when the Vipers play in Europe. Herrem believes the national team friends can have a good bite this year as well. – I am looking forward to following the Vipers this year. I never miss a Vipers match in the Champions League, says Sola and national team player Camilla Herrem. Photo: Odd Rune Kyllingstad – I think the Vipers are much better than last year. They have brought in world-class players. If everyone stays injury-free, they are favorites to win the Champions League again, says Herrem. Heidi Løke herself was there when Vipers won their first Champions League trophy in 2021. When Vipers won this spring, she had just become a mother for the third time. On Thursday evening, she meets her old teammates as a Larvik player. – We get to measure ourselves against the world’s best team, so it will be fun to see where we stand, she says and chuckles. Heidi Løke as we remember her from the Vipers era. Now she is back in Larvik. Photo: Carina Johansen / NTB – Vipers probably have the favorite stamp in the Champions League, and they live well with that, Løke believes. The linebacker highlights the breadth of this year’s Vipers team. She believes they have double and triple coverage in all places. – And they have the world’s best goalkeeper in Katrine Lunde. And the team with the best goalkeeper usually wins, says Løke. Goalkeeper Katrine Lunde was praised after the Champions League victory in Budapest in June. She will probably be just as important this season. Photo: ATTILA KISBENEDEK / AFP – Kruttsterkt Vipers news Sørlandet’s handball expert Peder Langfeldt believes the Vipers have a good chance of picking up their third straight trophy in Budapest. – I think they have a better team than last year. Vyakhireva is a fantastic addition, along with Roberts. It’s a very strong Vipers team. They won last year, and must be favorites this year, says Langfeldt. Ole Gustav Gjekstad has previously said that this year’s Vipers team is the best he has coached. The coach still thinks so. – I think the stable is at least as good as previous years. I see no reason why we should do worse than previous seasons. I see a team with great potential, says Gjekstad. Ole Gustav Gjekstad will not say this year that Vipers are favorites to win the Champions League either. Photo: Nikola Krstic / NTB He still does not completely agree with the experts who keep the Vipers as Champions League favorites this season. – I see that we are closer to being favorites this year than in previous years, but we don’t see ourselves as favourites, says Gjekstad. – Isn’t that a bit defensive? – No, I don’t think it’s defensive. We do not gain anything by shouting that we are going to win the Champions League. Györ probably feels more pressure to win than we do, concludes the Vipers coach.



ttn-69