The European Handball Federation (EHF) announced on Midsummer Eve which handball teams will be in the Champions League next season.

In the women's and men's tournament, for the 2020-2021 season, they have chosen to remove the qualification and instead introduced two groups of eight teams.

For the ladies, nine of these teams are from the nine highest ranked leagues in Europe. Sweden comes first in tenth place - which has the consequence that H65 Höör falls outside the Champions League.

- It is clear that we hoped to be involved. We had hope, says the team's coach Ola Månsson.

Small hall

Although the Skånelaget won the basic series, before the finals were canceled in March as a result of the corona pandemic, the remaining seven places in the Champions League go to other clubs.

These are selected by the EHF according to a number of criteria, both sporting and commercial. The law may itself apply for participation.

- It is probably related to the fact that we do not have such a large hall. We are not a big club, we just happen to be good at handball, says Månsson and continues:

- When we saw what other teams applied, we realized that it would be difficult. For example, a team like CSKA Moscow, which came third in the Russian league, has a completely different audience and other economic conditions. But they have never played in Europe at all.

"Can you discuss ..."

TT: Are you disappointed that EHF chooses you because of these premises?

- We knew about these premises, but then you might wonder if you should have these premises. Champions League - shouldn't you have champions then?

- Sweden is ranked as Europe's tenth best league and will have no team in the Champions League and will have no opportunity to do so. You can discuss that. But since the premises looked like they did when we applied, there is no disappointment in that way, says Månsson.

On the men's side, ten teams are directly qualified according to the same system as on the women's side. Six teams are then allowed to apply for the remaining places - which no Swedish team has chosen to do.