Midfielder Saltnes Aims to Stun Spurs as Bodo/Glimt Set Sights on Europa League Final

Bodo/Glimt may find themselves trailing 3-1 on aggregate against the Premier League’s Tottenham Hotspur following the first leg of their Europa League semi-final clash in London, but the Norwegian side has proven their capability against high-profile opponents.

A crucial late goal from midfielder Ulrik Saltnes has provided the club, hailing from above the Arctic Circle, with a glimmer of hope ahead of the second leg at home.

“It was definitely more of a relief that we managed to lift our spirits somewhat and get back into the game,” Saltnes told Reuters. “We’re still the massive underdogs, but now at least we’re in for a proper fight!”

Bodo/Glimt are no strangers to European battles, having taken down some impressive teams this season.

In the quarter-finals, they looked to be heading out in extra time of the second leg against Lazio in Rome, only for Andreas Helmersen to pull off an unexpected equaliser, leading to a penalty shootout that they ultimately won.

This latest display is part of a pattern of resilience in European competitions, rooted in the club’s ethos that prioritises process over mere results, allowing them to maintain composure even under pressure.

Saltnes has endured the rollercoaster of highs and lows this European campaign, finding the net twice in the first leg versus Lazio but being substituted after 57 minutes in Rome as their two-goal advantage disappeared, ultimately forcing extra time.

The 32-year-old reflected post-match on whether two missed opportunities in the second half would haunt him. However, as he witnessed the penalty shootout unfold, he found his mind elsewhere.

‘NOTHING TO LOSE’

“Not really – it was too emotional and exhilarating to concentrate on anything except the game and cheering on the lads,” he shared.

Luckily for Saltnes, his teammates, especially goalkeeper Nikita Haikin, rose to the occasion, clinching victory in the penalty shootout amidst the intensity of Rome’s Olympic Stadium, putting them just a step away from a European final—if they can overcome the two-goal deficit against Spurs on home soil.

“I think they’ll approach the next match similarly to the first. We truly have nothing to lose, and we must attack with everything we’ve got,” Saltnes elaborated.

“It’s crucial to stay composed—we can’t expect to win the game in just ten minutes. Plenty can happen, so we need to focus on our own performance, even though we acknowledge the immense challenge ahead.”

Saltnes has previously contemplated stepping away from the sport before Bodo began their remarkable ascent, clinching four league titles since 2020.

A significant factor in this turnaround was the appointment of performance coach Bjorn Mannsverk—a former fighter pilot from the Norwegian Air Force with no previous football experience—who, alongside coach Kjetil Knutsen, helped shift the focus from simply winning to striving for peak performance in every moment.

This Thursday, the town of Bodo will once more gather at the Aspmyra Stadium, just a ten-minute stroll from the airport, to rally behind their team as fireworks light the sky and the anthem “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC blares from the loudspeakers.

Journalists flocking to this compact venue, which accommodates just over 8,000 fans, will find themselves working from a press room situated above a supermarket, also used as a classroom during the day, adorned with colourful children’s drawings on the walls.

As the final is set to take place in Bilbao on May 21, Thursday’s second leg will mark the conclusion of the current season at Aspmyra.

“Certainly, reaching the final would be incredible, but I don’t believe it would change much,” Saltnes remarked.

“The journeys and experiences along the way hold much greater value than the final outcome, in my opinion.”