Ekberg played one of the main roles when Kiel secured its first CL title in eight years.
The right-hander scored the last two goals in the semi-final against Veszprem - where he was also knocked out in the final second - and then became the top scorer for Kiel in the final against Barcelona.
The day after the feat, he is still euphoric.
- It has not really sunk in.
I have fought for so many years to get this title and this is what you have always dreamed of.
It's fantastic, says Ekberg.
There was not much celebration, however, in corona times.
The team flew back to Kiel at 01:00, hung out there for a while and then parted ways.
- It was not much celebration at all.
It feels very special but we still enjoy the gold, says Ekberg.
He sacrificed himself not least in the semifinals where he took a real blow at the end.
At 36-35 to Kiel in extra time, Veszprem got one last chance to equalize on a free throw.
Kiel lined up the wall while the Serb Petar Nenadic stepped forward - and shot Ekberg straight in the face.
The Swede sank to the floor, grinned badly and later joined the celebration with an ice pack pressed against his head.
- Luckily I had time to turn my head a little when I saw that he turned away and was about to shoot.
You usually feel if you are standing right or not and it felt like I was standing exactly right, so I just thought "now we close our eyes", says Ekberg.
- It burned on the side of the face.
It was not that dangerous.
It hurt for the moment, but it was worth it.
In two weeks, the World Handball Championship will begin in Egypt, but Ekberg will not play.
He has declined due to the corona situation in the world.
- It was a fantastically difficult decision.
I had decided that I wanted to give the national team a chance again and was very set on it, and then everything broke loose with everything in the world right now.
It is a very difficult situation and everyone has to take a stand.
I felt that there were too many things that made me feel unsure if I really wanted to.
Had it been any other day of the week under normal circumstances, I would have been more than happy to put on the national team jersey again, says Ekberg and continues:
- But this time that is right now… people really have to prioritize in a completely different way than you usually do.
I have the utmost respect for everyone who wants to go, but I hope on the other hand that you also have respect for those who do not want and that there is nothing wrong with not doing it We are human and it is something completely different we are talking about now.
Niclas Ekberg says that national team captain Glenn Solberg has "complete" respect for his decision.
Winning the Champions League has not changed Ekberg's attitude.
- I have made the decision and stand behind it to 110 percent.
It will not change because it went as it did yesterday.
I'm over this championship and then we'll see what everything looks like when it's time again.
If things have changed, I am absolutely very open and happy to embrace the national team uniform once again with open arms, says the 32-year-old.