How did CSM's juniors return from -8 with Gyor? The message sent by coach Alex Moise in the dressing room

Article by Adrian Jitea – Published Saturday, 06 June 2026, 22:48 / Updated Saturday, 06 June 2026 22:49
The juniors of CSM Bucharest ticked off an exceptional comeback against Gyor, score 41-39, after extra time, and qualified for the final of the EHF Youth Club Trophy (Champions League dedicated to U17 handball players). Coach Alex Moise revealed the winning halftime message to GSP.
- CSM Bucharest – Debrecen, the final of the EHF Youth Club Trophy, is scheduled for Sunday, from 11:30 local time (12:30 in Romania). It will be played in the MVM Dome in Budapest, in the opening matches of the senior women's competition.
- From 16:00 Romanian time, the big team of CSM Bucharest will fight for the 3rd place in the Final Four against Brest.
Alexandru Moise is a 25-year-old coach. He took over the current group 4 years ago and they have grown together. So much so that they ended up fighting for the trophy in the inaugural edition of the EHF Youth Club Trophy.
On Saturday, in the semi-final against Gyor, they managed a small miracle. At halftime, the young Hungarian handball players led 21-13. Before the first half is over, in a time-out, Alex Moise asks his students: “Girls, please play for fun! Come on!”. On the same note was the locker room message, revealed in a dialogue with GSP.
How CSM Bucharest came back against Gyor: “Courage combined with confidence”
“I just tried to drive really deep into their minds that we have absolutely nothing to lose, just things we can take back home with us and learn from. I tried to give as much courage as possible combined with confidence and at the end of the match it turned out that I succeeded”, said the coach of the Bucharest juniors.
They didn't have time to open the champagne for the children. They went to watch the semifinal between CSM Bucharest and Metz, lost by the “Tigers” 27-32: “I can say that we also celebrated with handball. Immediately after the match, we rushed to get to the senior women's matches.”
Everyone at the MVM Dome: CSM is playing for the trophy!
Next up is a match in the home of European women's handball, the MVM Dome in Budapest. The final with Debrecen is scheduled from 11:30 local time (12:30 Romania). The club informed that the tickets bought for the senior matches will also be valid for the junior match.
It will be the biggest privilege of their career so far. I am in a position where most players in Europe wish to be, to play in the hall where the Champions League final is played every year. It's a unique experience that will stay with them for a lifetime!
– Alexandru Moise, for GSP.ro
PHOTO GALLERY. They are the juniors who took CSM Bucharest to the EHF Youth Club Trophy final
In the semi-final win against Gyor, the goals were scored by: Sprîncenatu 15, Petrache 9, Antonescu 8, Iliescu 5, Zabuliche 2, Zaharia 1, Stanciu 1.




