Rival club Djurgarden concluded a 38-year dry spell, produced Tottenham Hotspur's star player, yet lament about their own subpar playing surface.
Europa Conference League Semi-Finals: Muddy Pitch and Underdogs Djurgarden Take on Giants Chelsea
Sweden's Djurgarden football club is about to make history, facing Chelsea in the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League. Known as 'a green grocer's market stall'[4] and causing complaints amongst players, the pitch at the 3Arena, where the game will be played, may prove a pivotal factor in this match.
With Djurgarden being the first Swedish team to reach the last four in Europe since 1987[1], they've proven to be formidable underdogs. Despite having a market value significantly lower than Robert Sanchez[2], they've managed to avoid opposition like Fiorentina and Real Betis[1].
Chelsea, favored to win the Conference League, have seemingly been dealt a challenging hand. However, their encounter with Djurgarden is seemingly not going to be a walk in the park. Conditions on the pitch at the 3Arena may significantly impact the game[3][5].
The surface has been compared to a market stall[4], causing problems with ball movement and traction, requiring Djugarden and Chelsea to adapt their strategies[3][5]. Additionally, the artificial surface might pose risks of injuries due to its harder nature compared to natural grass[5].
Djurgarden has had its fair share of challenges leading up to this match, including changes in management[1], their focus solely on European competition since the end of their domestic season, and a harsh pitch[3]. Yet, the team managed to qualify for the knockout stages despite these challenges[1].
One player to keep an eye on is 21-year-old Tobias Fjeld Gulliksen, who scored two crucial goals in Djurgarden's quarter-final against Rapid Vienna[1]. With aspirations to follow in the footsteps of Lucas Bergvall, who moved to Tottenham Hotspur after catching the attention of Europe's top tier clubs[1], Fjeld Gulliksen seems poised to make a name for himself on the big stage.
Bergvall, who once played for Djurgarden, expressed his love for the club before leaving for Tottenham in 2024: "It feels depressing, of course. I enjoy myself here, so it feels really sad to leave everyone here, but I hope to come back at some point."[1]
The match between Djurgarden and Chelsea on the subpar pitch is set to take place on May 11th at 8 pm CEST at the 3Arena[1]. When it comes to watching or listening to the game, fans can do so on talkSPORT through their website or app, or on DAB digital radio[6].
[1] https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/djurgarden-chelsea-europa-conference-league-semi-final-pafos-quarter-finals-rapid/blt643e15d0c9aa64be[2] https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/djurgarden-if/startseite/verein/3153[3] https://theathletic.com/2774781/2023/04/06/how-djurgardens-artificial-pitch-is-triggering-complaints-from-players-ahead-of-europa-conference-league-clashes/[4] https://www.djurgarden.se/nyheter-blogg/arbetar-med-ny-grasprovning/[5] https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/europa-conference-league-djurgarden-chelsea-high-grass-concerns/bltcebb61d852d02bb4[6] https://talksport.com/football/915968/europa-conference-league-semi-final-djurgarden-chelsea-where-to-watch-online/
Note: Enrichment data has been incorporated sparingly to improve the reader's understanding of the situation and provide additional insights.
- In the Europa Conference League Semi-Finals, Djurgarden, a Swedish football club, will face the English giants Chelsea, marking a historical moment for the Swedes.
- Despite having a lower market value than goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and avoiding stronger opponents like Fiorentina and Real Betis, Djurgarden has proven to be formidable underdogs on the European stage.
- The pitch at the 3Arena, described as resembling a market stall, may pose challenges for both Djurgarden and Chelsea, as the artificial surface causes problems with ball movement and traction.
- The hard nature of the artificial grass could also potentially increase the risk of injuries during the match, a concern for both teams as they adapt their strategies to accommodate the subpar conditions.
- Djurgarden has weathered several challenges leading up to this semi-final, including changes in management, placing all their focus on European competition since the end of their domestic season, and dealing with the harsh pitch at the 3Arena.
- One player to watch from Djurgarden is Tobias Fjeld Gulliksen, who scored two crucial goals in their quarter-final against Rapid Vienna. Aiming to follow in the footsteps of Lucas Bergvall, who moved to Tottenham Hotspur, Fjeld Gulliksen seems poised to make his mark on the big stage.
