Reistad moved to Denmark with enormous expectations:
See Norway – Slovenia on Thursday from 18.50 on TV 2 and TV 2 Play.
ESBJERG (TV 2): Henny Reistad comes cycling into the square in the city center in Esbjerg. The 22-year-old has finally got properly in place.
– It’s very delicious. Now I have been familiar with the city, the routines and everything. The club is very exciting and professional. It’s fun, says Reistad about the new life in the neighboring country.
The Bærum girl shows off the Danish city, which has now become known to her.
But some of the teammates were not completely unknown. In the squad you can find several of the Norwegian handball girls: Marit Malm Frafjord, Marit Røsberg Jacobsen, Kristine Breistøl, Vilde Mortensen Ingstad and Sanna Solberg.
– It has been a security to have them. It helps me in that I do not have to be so seenert in the beginning and can get into things a little faster.
See Norway – Slovenia on Thursday from 18.50 on TV 2 and TV 2 Play.
The expectations
The full-back chose to step out of his home country into the Danish league after last year’s season. That after she had won everything that was: Series gold, cup gold and Champions League with the Vipers – in addition to a European Championship gold.
And when she signed for Esbjerg, expectations were high.
– It’s not just easy to get into a new team in a sporting way. I felt it. The way I performed at the end of the season last year with the Vipers – I have never performed so well before. It’s not like I had that level for so long. It is not so easy to get it back right away, Reistad points out.
“Team Esbjerg’s new star has landed: Many believe that Henny Reistad is already one of the best in the world,” he wrote JydskeVestkysten about the newly signed fullback.
«– Esbjerg has acquired the greatest talent in the world, says expert“And”Expert blown backwards by new Esbjerg player – has not seen anything like it»Wrote TV 2 Denmark.
– I can understand that people think that “that’s what she’s coming up with right now”. But it’s probably just me who thinks about it a lot. I have put it down a bit and have more peace around the game and the team.
– An achievement you are not happy with
The move came shortly after the national team player returned home after the Olympics in Tokyo.
The handball girls went on a disappointing loss against ROC, the Russian team, in the semifinals, but captured the bronze medal against Sweden. Reistad admits that it took time to get out of the “Olympic bubble”.
– In a way, you are forced out of it because you are no longer in Tokyo. So physically you are out, but mentally you are not. It’s something you would rather not do that you cannot do.
For the Olympic debutant had a demanding championship. The 22-year-old injured his shoulder in the match against Angola and was out of action for a short week.
– It is very boring that you are left with an achievement you are not happy with and do not get anything done with. But for me, the bronze medal was absolutely fantastic and I will take that with me further. Then you have to try to turn that disappointment into something you can learn from.
– What were you disappointed with?
– It was a combination that we as a team did not make it, and for my own part I had problems with the shoulder which took a lot of focus. I have not been through it before, but I learned a lot about myself – how to solve problems. I’m glad of it, but I wish I performed even better yet I did. Because it’s boring not to perform when it really matters.
Hunting for new titles
This week, the national team gathers again to play the EHF Euro Cup. Norway has already qualified for the European Championships in 2022 as reigning European champions and will meet the host nations Slovenia, Montenegro and Northern Macedonia for private matches.
– It will be very good to gather again and at the same time not be able to say what I have had before, but get a good feeling with our game and look ahead, says Reistad about the first meeting with the national team colleagues after this summer’s championship.
And when she is back in Esbjerg, we can continue on more titles, but this time on Danish soil. The goal of the club is to get far in the Champions League – preferably all the way to the top.
– There are opportunities and if we do our job, then it can go well. It is very exciting.