Despite having a rollercoaster season in the Champions League, experienced right winger Trine Østergaard is confident that CSM can be back among the top four sides in Europe, after being eliminated in the quarter-finals for the last six seasons.
“This is why I signed with CSM in the first place,” says Østergaard, who joined CSM in 2023 and has just extended her contract.
“My big dream is to get to the FINAL4 in in Budapest, and I think CSM are the right team to try to do this, to achieve this goal. We are an ambitious team, we always set big goals, therefore it just looked right to sign here nearly two years ago and continue to play,” says Østergaard in an interview with EHF’s website.
In her first season for CSM, Østergaard scored 50 goals, when the Romanian side lost in the quarter-finals against Metz,. So far she has netted 24.
“Of course it has been a season with ups and downs. But I think we are getting there. We are getting used to the style our new coach, Helle Thomsen, has implemented. It is more Danish, I would say, with fast handball, we try to get some good goals. It also helps because I can talk with her in Danish, but overall, I think we are on a good path,” says CSM’s right wing.
Sunday CSM will face surprise package of group A, HC Podravka Vegeta.
“It will be a tough match, but I think we have hit just the form we needed to hit. We are growing and it will be tough, but I hope we can win this match and set up an easier clash for the play-offs,” says Østergaard.
