Above the Arctic Circle, AZ is preparing for the European match against Bodø/Glimt. Trainer Pascal Jansen and attacker Hakon Evjen look ahead to the confrontation in the eighth final of the Conference League. “It’s nice to be back,” Norwegian striker Evjen begins.
The Norwegian attacker played for Bodø/Glimt from 2017 to 2019. “I have to say that I really missed this club.” As an experience expert, Evjen knows everything about AZ’s opponent. Trainer Pascal Jansen made grateful use of this. “Evjen told me some details. Although that seems logical to me.”
Artificial grass
As with many Scandinavian football clubs, Bodø/Glimt’s accommodation also has an artificial turf. During the press conference, a journalist confronted Jansen about this. “We also have experience with artificial grass in the Netherlands”, the Alkmaar trainer replied. “I’m fine with it, don’t worry about it. We also have artificial grass pitches at our training complex.”
giant killer
With a big win over AS Roma in the group stage of the Conference League and the elimination of Celtic in the sixteenth final, Bodø/Glimt is slowly gaining the status of ‘giant killer’. Yet on paper AZ is the favorite. For example, the budget of the Alkmaarders is four times as much as that of the Norwegians. And the Aspmyra stadium only has 5635 seats, while the AFAS Stadium offers space for 19,500 fans. “They are two good teams and I don’t think there is a favourite,” Evjen said. “Both teams are in good shape and so I expect a tough game.”
Fredrik Midtsjo
AZ has to do it against the Norwegian national champion without Fredrik Midtsjø. That’s a shame for him, because he can’t play in his home country. It is also a big loss for his teammates. “His power and experience are invaluable to us,” Jansen told the press present. “Unfortunately, this is the reality and now someone else has to do it well in his way.” Midtsjø was injured against Feyenoord a week and a half ago and had to miss all the duels against Ajax and NEC. “It is annoying that he also became ill during his rehabilitation. He is now training at the club and I hope he will join the group again on Friday.”
The eighth final of the Conference League Bodø/Glimt – AZ starts tomorrow evening at 9 p.m.