How Champions League underdogs BK Häcken have stunned Europe

When the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) group stage draw was made, it was seemingly a straightforward one to foretell: Women’s Super League champions Chelsea would end high, after all; Real Madrid could be second, adopted by Paris FC who, having knocked out Arsenal and Wolfsburg within the qualifying rounds would make a superb fist of it, possibly even beat Madrid, however ultimately end third. And then it will be newly topped Swedish runners-up BK Häcken, lacking key gamers and nonetheless troubleshooting life underneath a brand new coach, left to prop up Group D in an apparent final place.

But with seven factors from three video games — wins over Paris FC and Real Madrid, in addition to a 0-0 draw with Chelsea — it’s Häcken who surprisingly sit atop the group, two factors away from Chelsea and with a significantly good likelihood of advancing to the quarterfinals with three video games to go.

So how have they completed it?

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One purpose comes from the top of their Damallsvenskan season. With 35-year-old coach Mak Lind introduced in on July 1 to switch Tottenham Hotspur-bound Robert Vilahamn, Häcken suffered a large wobble with solely 4 wins from 10 league video games — together with a significant 3-2 loss to rivals Hammarby — because the reigning champions misplaced their place on the high of the desk on objective distinction forward of the ultimate matchday on Nov. 11.

Just 4 days earlier than the beginning of their UWCL group-stage marketing campaign, Häcken had been nonetheless in with an opportunity of reclaiming the home title, however in the end their 4-0 win over Pitea wasn’t sufficient they usually completed second behind Hammarby (who beat Norrkoping 2-0) by simply two targets. Yet there was little time to dwell on that disappointment earlier than touring to Paris to face the workforce who had simply knocked out the earlier season’s runners up: VfL Wolfsburg.

As anticipated, the guests opted to sit down behind the ball for big elements of the match, however went right into a 2-0 lead because of targets both facet of the break from Rosa Kafaji and Anna Sandberg, in some way managing to carry on when Julie Dufour received one again from the penalty spot. In their second recreation, at residence to Madrid, Häcken went a objective down inside 10 minutes, but some tactical tweaks from Lind at half-time allowed them to assault with extra ease and comeback targets from Kafaji and Katariina Kosola ensured the Getingarna — or “Wasps,” so nicknamed for his or her yellow and black striped shirts — made it an unimaginable two wins from two.

Surely they’d lose to Chelsea within the subsequent recreation, although? Right? Not least with Emma Hayes’ all-conquering Blues on the lookout for a response after a 4-1 humbling away to Arsenal within the WSL. Häcken defender and Australia worldwide Aivi Luik instructed ESPN that she was anticipating Chelsea to “be out for blood” and to be welcomed with “a bit of a battering” at Stamford Bridge.

Indeed, the Blues did assault, however Häcken refused to budge. Unable to press excessive up the pitch as they like, Lind’s workforce settled right into a low block and dared the hosts to discover a manner by — giving up 22 photographs and 71% possession — with an injection of tempo from the introduction of Monica Jusu Bah to make sure that they had an attacking outlet on the counter. But except for clattering the woodwork twice, Chelsea could not discover that second of inspiration as Häcken handled their finest efforts and held out for a well-known 0-0 draw.

Asked after the Chelsea recreation what was driving Häcken to be so spectacular in Europe this yr, Luik instructed ESPN: “I think it’s probably a few things. I think [one reason is] the hurt from losing [the title]. I think it’s also being the underdog, going out there, having nothing to lose. Also, the way that we’re playing and the brave way that he [Lind] wants us to play out from the back and play through the lines. We love that and we love that he has confidence in us to do that.”

For Luik, the change of path underneath Lind has lastly galvanised the workforce and was at its clearest in opposition to Madrid.

“Obviously, we have quality players, and we have players who have some experience and whatnot, but it’s always tough to adjust,” she mentioned. “There were some tweaks and we did have some results that probably didn’t go our way. At the end of the day, we had a change of coach and we’ve welcomed it and I think we’ve been growing ever since, and it did take us a few months, but I think we’re getting there.”

With no league commitments, you’d suppose health could be a problem for Häcken. But the membership have merely continued with their coaching routine as in the event that they had been nonetheless taking part in Damallsvenskan video games, readying themselves for one match every week and never worrying in regards to the further loading that comes with taking part in “English weeks.” That mentioned, Luik concedes it is unusual to be taking part in into December with no breaks earlier than their season begins once more in April.

“It is tough to go from January, through to a World Cup [July 20-Aug. 20], and then barely any breaks straight back into league then Champions League,” she mentioned. “That’s literally a player who will be playing almost the whole year: that is a lot to ask. For instance, [Sweden international] Elin Rubensson, her loading this year has been insane and is out with injury; she’s a key player in our team and we’re missing her.”

That mentioned, there’s a break on the horizon, because the workforce will probably be given a few weeks off earlier than returning within the first week of January to prepared themselves for the final two Champions League matchdays, with one other small break slated for February. But first up is the ultimate UWCL matchday of 2023, which can see Häcken host Chelsea on the Bravida Arena in Gothenburg on Wednesday.

Ahead of the final recreation in opposition to the Blues, Lind praised the flexibleness and flexibility of his squad, however they might want to present extra guile of their counter assaults and be able to climate one other onslaught as they did earlier than. Should Häcken lastly lose within the Champions League this season, they’ll nonetheless be in a robust place to progress from Group D and the important thing efficiency may come on the penultimate matchday once they host Paris FC on Jan. 24.

It’s apt that Luik describes the Wasps’ squad as “buzzing” over the previous couple of weeks, as they’re having fun with coaching in addition to their soccer underneath Lind. For a facet anticipated to slide out of the group stage with a whimper, Häcken proceed to confound their doubters and there’ll certainly be loads extra surprises on their journey this season.