‘Pursuing One Goal After Another’: Honkavaara Discusses Djurgarden’s Challenge Against Chelsea

Come Friday morning, if Djurgården secure a spot in the UEFA Conference League (UECL) Final, they will have achieved what could be hailed as one of the most remarkable comebacks in the annals of European club football.

Tomorrow evening, the Stockholm club heads to Stamford Bridge for the second leg of their UECL Semi-Final against Chelsea, a team whose squad is valued at a staggering 44 times more than theirs, according to Transfermarkt.

As if the financial disparity weren’t daunting enough, being down 4-1 from the first leg only amplifies the challenge that lies ahead. Nevertheless, manager Jani Honkavaara conveyed that spirits are high within the Djurgården camp.

“We have finally arrived in London, and the overall atmosphere is positive. The players are eager about what awaits us, and we are genuinely looking forward to taking the pitch for the match on Thursday,” he stated during the pre-match press conference.

This marks the first time in three decades that an Allsvenskan team has reached the last four of a European competition, and Honkavaara aims to seize the moment by treating tonight’s clash as an entirely fresh encounter, leaving the first leg behind.

“We aren’t overly focused on the result from the last match as we approach this game. It’s crucial to regard it as a separate contest, and if we want to achieve a positive outcome, it’s all about pursuing one goal at a time.”

“However, we can’t enter the match solely aiming to claw back the score; we must manage the game intelligently and see where it leads us,” he added.

Djurgården’s chances are further complicated by a growing injury list, with Adam Stahl, Albin Ekdal, and Zakaria Sawo all sidelined during Sunday’s draw with AIK, alongside Oskar Fallenius, Nino Zugelj, Rasmus Schuller, Patric Aslund, and Malkolm Nilsson Safqvist.

Despite these absentees, Honkavaara remains optimistic, stating, “We’re injecting some new talent into this match compared to our last encounter at 3Arena. While some new uncertainties have arisen, we can still assemble a strong squad for Thursday’s game.”

With Chelsea being heavy favourites to clinch the UECL title since the season’s inception, manager Enzo Maresca could be forgiven for contemplating what winning the trophy would signify for the Blues: “Securing a trophy is a statement, and you could then say that Chelsea are back.”