The Bodø/Glimt stadium does not even fit 5000 supporters and in terms of budget it can be compared with Willem II. Yet everyone at PSV is wary of the Norwegian stunt club. “I value them highly.”
Less than a year ago, Bodø/Glimt amazed friend and foe. At home, AS Roma was defeated 6-1 and also later in the quarterfinals of the Conference League, the Norwegians were 2-1 too strong for the eventual winners.
Previously, Celtic was also played off the field in Norway. If you take the picture even wider, you will see that the Norwegians have not been defeated in thirteen home games in a European context. Fortunately for PSV is that the home game is first on the program on Thursday.
Dangerous family club
Yet it says enough about the qualities of the small Norwegian club. The secret of the Norwegian team lies in a number of facets. One of them is a trainer who has been with the club since 2017. Kjetil Knutsen is very good with the players and that is reflected on the field. The players themselves are mainly football players from the area. About 40 percent of the selection must come from the north of Norway.
Despite a budget of ‘only’ seven million, the family club cannot be underestimated. Ruud van Nistelrooij knows that too. “This team has put itself on the map. Everyone remembers the match against AS Roma. They set the standard in Norway. We receive Bodø/Glimt with great respect.”
windfall
Bodø/Glimt is mainly known as a scoring team. It likes to have the ball and put pressure on the opponent. A windfall for PSV is that the top scorer of the Norwegians is not participating in Eindhoven. Amahl Pellegrino has scored nineteen times in as many games.
Van Nistelrooij does not see it as an advantage. “With the playing style that Bodø/Glimt uses, every striker gets a lot of opportunities. So it doesn’t matter who’s there. The players around the attackers create the opportunities.”
Xavi Simons is also not distracted by it. “Bodø/Glimt is simply a top team.”