There rests a optimistic expectation of Malmo who almost going to put on. It is in the air and in the talking that something really big is happening. Now football history written. Again.
Here we have been here before. Therefore, a lot to impress. 17 national championships, the leadership in the premier league marathon table and a final loss in the European Cup in 1979 which gave the Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet bragdguld impresses and gives perspective.
After 14 years long wait is playing the group stage match of the Champions League back on Swedish soil. Most recently, Helsingborg who met Europe’s big clubs. Now Olympiakos in Malmö to celebrate (?) 100 Champions League matches in the club’s history.
The Greek champions are looking for second straight trepoängaren after home victory 3-2 in the opener against Atlético Madrid. While lost Malmo in Turin against Juventus with clear 2-0.
But Home and Away are two very different things in football’s living room furniture. It’s also what Malmö FF’s Norwegian coach Åge Hareide emphasizes when he meets the media the day before the match.
– I firmly believe that we will prevail. They will find it very tough. Greek teams are accustomed to great pressure at home, but they do not like to have pressure against them. They are much weaker there. The same applies to the Greek national team, says Hareide and pull up results from the time both as coach of Molde and the Norwegian national team coach to prove his thesis.
He continues in the same style. Calmly, objectively and with a clear purpose: the players, managers, fans – yes, the whole town – will be pumped with so many positive signs as possible before it’s time for the kickoff.
– I think that Salzburg was better Overall, as a team, player for player. Olympiakos is talented, no doubt about it, but more uneven in their lineup than Salzburg says Hareide relaxed and smiling.
It was 3-0 against
The Mental Game is one of Hareides main strengths as a leader. He has an ability to get to the group in the same direction, to get the best out of each player, and also printed in exactly the right buttons so far in the European game.
against Sparta Prague he took out “Swedish ghost “that even Hacken beat out the Czechs last year, and that Prague would not withering under the pressure from Malmö’s fanatical home crowd.
In Salzburg reminded Hareide on Champions League ghost that baffled the Austrians, the club missed the group stage in seven straight attempts. Facit was an eighth setback.
I admit that I am mightily impressed Hareides way that both tactically and mentally raise Malmö during the season, despite injuries to key players like Guillermo Molins and Simon Thern .
He gives young players great confidence, is extremely flexible in game coaching and has an unbeatable combination of humility, cunning and authority.
The match on Wednesday night is the best chance in the group stage for the Malmö to take the points and eventually pinch third place in the group that gives place in the Europa League. But despite Hareides smart way to impress upon optimism among all the sky is the Greek champions favorites.
At the same time, I am sure that they become confused about Malmö’s cocky attitude. The question is whether the upper hand in the mental game goes all the way to three points.