2014 CEV DenizBank Champions League

    Ural (Ufa) dropped out of the Champions League, Zenit ask his place (from sportal.bg)


    Vice-champions of Russia Ural (Ufa) withdrew from the Champions League in volleyball. This was announced by Secretary of the club Anton Lednev.
    "We made this decision to give up participation in the Champions League. Founded reason is the short hall that we have," said Lednev.


    Immediately after the decision of the Urals, the bronze medalists from Zenit (Kazan) decided to apply for the vacated position.


    "We talked to the All-Russian Volleyball Federation and Zenith stated his desire to play in the Champions League. Now we did not depend on waiting for a decision of the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV). Hoped that the excellent reputation of our club will help you enable us to play in the Champions League, "said the director of Zenith Oligo Brizgalov.

    I have a feeling the reason is different. They lost almost all Players, actual good Players have Clubs. To play knowing that won't be good result and only to lost money- better withdrawn.

    Bartek may have a point here. Gathering a strong group of players might be problematic indeed for Ural in the next season, but this is not an excuse. As a vice-champion of the currently strongest league in the world, the club should be enjoying benefits instead of looking for a way to skip playing in Europe. It's a unique chance after all. Also, even if it requires much travel and additional expenses, they could have used some other sports hall in another city. When you want to do something badly you will always try to find a way to do it. True, playing home games 1000 km away from Ufa in the middle of the week will be tough, but it's (possibly) three home games only in the group stage, as long as the old tournament formula remains unchanged. Gubernia, for example, would have killed for the chance to play in the CL.

    It's a totally different topic why the Russian vice-champions play in something that looks more like a school facility and why CEV has problems motivating teams financially to participate in the best continental tournament. Teams do indeed invest more than they receive quite often.

    Germany:


    Champions League: Berlin Recycling Volleys, VfB Friedrichshafen
    CEV Cup: Generali Unterhaching, TV Ingersoll Buhl
    Challenge Cup: Moerser SC


    The CEV Cup and Challenge Cup draws are to be held on 20. June. The CL draw is scheduled on June 28.

    Asseco Resovia Rzeszow wants to be Final Four Host.

    F4 probably will come back to Poland after many years.

    Quote from Bartek

    Asseco Resovia Rzeszow wants to be Final Four Host.


    F4 probably will come back to Poland after many years.

    :aww: Fight for the final, for fu*k's sake, not buy it...

    You have the shortest memory I have ever seen :lol: if You don't remember ZAKSA in Novosibirsk a few months ago.

    Quote from bella

    :aww: Fight for the final, for fu*k's sake, not buy it...

    As far as I know, Rzeszów just wants to host a big volleyball event, and the venue is too small for an NT game. They couldn't even get Wagner Memorial. We'll see. I'd say: first advance to the finals on your own and next year you can buy yourselves in.