I the holy week, Eric Johansson plays his career's first "final four" with Kiel.
Then he lies on the operating table – and misses the Olympics.
It's not entirely easy to know which leg to stand on just now if you're Eric Johansson.
On the one hand, the tall left-hander is one of all the stars being interviewed at the player's hotel in Cologne before a weekend that can be something more than usual. "Final four" awaits in the Champions League, where Johansson's Kiel is fighting for the title, which the club has already won four times – last in the 2020 pandemic edition.
Saturday evening, Kiel will play a semifinal against Barcelona.
On the other hand, it's no fun waiting for Eric Johansson when the weekend is over. Already on Tuesday, he'll be lying under the knife at home in Kiel, where a bone fragment is to be removed from the patella tendon in his left knee. Then comes rehabilitation for 8-10 weeks, and the Olympics in Paris will have to be followed from the TV sofa.
It was clear already when national team coach Glenn Solberg recently presented his bruttotrupp before the Olympics.
The whole season has been a mix of sweet and salt for Eric Johansson.
In the national team, he didn't quite reach his maximum level in the EM, which ended with Swedish bronze after the heavy semifinal loss to France.
In the Bundesliga, Kiel finished fourth, while Johansson was recently named the best left-hander in "the world's best league".
And in the Champions League, Kiel was on its way out with thunder and lightning in the quarterfinals against Montpellier. But the 11-0 loss on the away leg was followed by a 10-0 home win in Kiel. The decisive goal was scored by Johansson.
The final weekend in Cologne also means the last night with the gang for team-mate Niclas Ekberg, the 35-year-old who is moving back to Ystads IF after the season.
The men's Champions League is traditionally decided in the Lanxess Arena, the handball temple in Cologne, with seating for around 20,000 spectators. The semifinals will be played on Saturday and the bronze match and final on Sunday.
Saturday, 3:00 PM: Magdeburg-Ålborg.
Swedes in Magdeburg: Mikael Aggefors, Oscar Bergendahl, Felix Claar, Albin Lagergren, Daniel Pettersson.
Swedes in Ålborg: Jesper Nielsen, Lukas Nilsson, Fabian Norsten, Jack Thurin.
The match: A special match for Swedish midfielder Felix Claar, who has been voted player of the year in Magdeburg during his debut season in the club. Claar came from Ålborg, where he played for three seasons. Magdeburg is the reigning Champions League champion, Ålborg has never won but was in the final in 2021.
Saturday, 6:00 PM: Barcelona–Kiel.
Swedes in Barcelona: Jonathan Carlsbogård, Hampus Wanne.
Swedes in Kiel: Niclas Ekberg, Eric Johansson, Karl Wallinius.
The match: The two most successful clubs in the tournament's history: Barcelona has ten titles, Kiel four. In Barça, Hampus Wanne has the chance to become Champions League champion exactly ten years after he won with Flensburg. In Kiel, Niclas Ekberg – champion 2020 – hopes to put a perfect point on his 12-year time in the club.
2022-23: Magdeburg.
2021-22: Barcelona.
2020-21: Barcelona.
2019-20: Kiel.
2018-19: Vardar.
