Defense Will Be Our Greatest Strength
New Zagreb handball coach Hrvoje Horvat Cveba is pleased with how the team has responded to his arrival and announces preparatory tournaments in Tatabánya and Ohrid.
New Zagreb handball coach Hrvoje Horvat Cveba is pleased with how the team has responded to his arrival and announces preparatory tournaments in Tatabánya and Ohrid.
Zagreb's handball players will finish the first part of their preparations at Rogla on Saturday, August 8, 2026, and new coach Hrvoje Horvat Cveba analyzed his first working days at the club for Večernji list. He emphasized that he is extremely satisfied with the team's response and particularly highlighted the defensive segment of the game, which, according to him, will be the team's key strength in the upcoming season.
During the altitude training camp, Zagreb played two winning matches, defeating Trimo Trebnje 31:25 and Slovenj Gradec 34:27. Today, they face a third match against Gorenje Velenje. Coach Horvat Cveba revealed that there have been no major injury problems, aside from a few minor cases.
"I am very satisfied with how the team has responded to my arrival. We have no problems; the guys came prepared for the training camp, so apart from minor injuries, nothing dramatic has happened," Horvat Cveba told Večernji list. He added that Zlatko Raužan has not trained at full intensity because he is just recovering from injuries, but he is expected to work at 100% starting next week. Barbašinski, who just arrived from Belarus, will join the team on Tuesday and will follow a special program, with the idea that both will play at the tournament in Tatabánya. The coach also highlighted the heavy burden that pivot players Topić and Karalaš have carried so far.
Horvat Cveba found several players at Zagreb whom he coached as the Croatian national team head coach at Euro 2022 and the 2023 World Championship. "Yes, these are Glavaš, our new captain, Karačić, Mamić, and also Štrek, who did not go to the Euro or World Championship during my tenure but was at the qualifying tournament in France for the Tokyo Olympics. Yes, Jakov Gojun is also here, but this time he is part of the coaching staff," the coach explained.
The new players, including Češko, Nikolić, Karačić, and Mamić, have adapted quickly. "They have all fit in brilliantly. Češko, Nikolić, Karačić, and Mamić quickly grasped everything and will be of great help. The older players have handled this demanding part of the preparations well," said Horvat Cveba, adding that they rarely asked to reduce training intensity, which he sees as a good sign of motivation.
When asked what was most emphasized in training, Horvat Cveba replied without hesitation: "Defense." He noted that the team now has two equally strong defensive options, 6-0 and 5-1 with Mamić pushing forward, a role he played for years in Leipzig. Češko is also being prepared for the front player position.
"Our greatest strength will be these two types of defense, or rather the fact that we can adapt very quickly. It is very difficult for any attacking opponent when the defense changes in a short time," emphasized the Zagreb coach.
In addition to intense training, there was also time for relaxation. "I think everyone was looking forward to free time for rest and sleep. We had a day of team bonding, we had a barbecue, played some games," Horvat Cveba recounted. The coach himself used his free moments for rest, preparing training sessions, and reading. He revealed that he is reading a book by Canadian physician and author Gábor Maté, who deals with trauma, stress, and the connection between emotional life and physical health.
After returning from Rogla, Zagreb will play in two preparatory tournaments. The first is in Tatabánya, Hungary, on August 13 and 14, where, in addition to the hosts, Polish Kielce and Slovenian Celje will participate. Horvat Cveba is aware that the match against Celje, with whom Zagreb plays in the first round of the Champions League, could be a "game of hide-and-seek." The second tournament is scheduled in Ohrid from August 18 to 22, where Zagreb will play in a group with hosts Ohrid, Egyptian Zamalek, and Vojvodina from Novi Sad.
Reflecting on the challenges in the Champions League, where Zagreb faces a group with Aalborg, PDSG, and Celje, the coach remained focused: "In the Champions League, there are no bad opponents or easy groups. It is important to stay focused on our goals and get the maximum out of every opportunity."
