AS Roma’s 2–1 win over HJK means that “Klubi” will remain jumbo in its Europa League group and will not be able to continue its games in the conference league. CEO of HJK Aki Riihilahti is, despite Thursday’s loss, satisfied with the club’s ending European campaign.
– A great game and a great journey in many ways. Of course it’s sad. We had a chance to get a better result, especially in many home games.
Riihilahti is especially pleased with the team’s development compared to last year. In the previous season, HJK played one step lower in the Conference League and was clearly in trouble against weaker teams than this fall’s opponents.
– Now, however, against significantly tougher top teams in the world, we were very involved in all the games. Petraus from last year has been huge in what it means to play two competitions at the same time. With what courage, intensity and speed these must be played. Especially at home, we find the opportunity to fight evenly against anyone.
According to Riihilahti, HJK needs even more speed, skill and experience in big games. However, the future looks great.
– If you look at our game yesterday, there were nine youngsters who have many good playing years ahead of them. I believe that next year we will be a step more ready again.
In addition to young players, HJK has big names in its ranks, such as Perparim Hetemaj, Paulus Arajuuri and Jukka Raitalawho, according to Riihilahti, are role models worth their weight in gold for developing players.
Hetemaj scored his team’s only goals both in Thursday’s match in Rome and in the home match at the beginning of the month against Ludogorets.
– As soon as the game starts, he gets ten centimeters bigger. With his physical and mental courage and presence, he also brings strength to others. When the most ticks, then the performances improve.
You have to know how to use VAR
Many HJK supporters left the Töölö football stadium upset. by David Browne a wonderful 2-2 long-range goal from a corner kick was disallowed after a video review. HJK’s Malik too the hand hit before the goal lightly Bryan Cristanten to the face.
According to Riihilahti, the breakdown did not significantly affect the course of the situation. However, he doesn’t want to go into a fight, but insists that the way of using the video refereeing system VAR should be thought about.
– If the entire penalty area was “screened” for a corner kick, there would always be a foul for which you could almost give a point, and a foul for which you could give the defending team a penalty. I think that’s going a bit far.
According to HJK’s CEO, football is at a turning point where it has to be decided whether to rely more and more on technology or to humanize refereeing.
– Either one has to be done. Now we are in a bit of an intermediate phase, which is quite difficult for the public, spectators and players.
In their home Veikkausliiga, VAR is not used and HJK was involved in video refereed matches for the first time. According to Riihilahti, players in big clubs are used to it and know how to use it better than Finns.
– You have to give credit to the Italians. They know how to get the referee there for VAR and are clearly more experienced in such matters.
Riihilahti estimates that without VAR checks, HJK would have scored more points from the autumn European games. In addition to the Roma match, for example, in the home match against Real Betis, HJK had a goal disallowed and the opponent was awarded a foul after video inspection.
– But that is part of this competition and the rules. You shouldn’t go behind it. We still have learning to do. Certain fouls that don’t show up in other games are highlighted. That’s also experience, knowing how to play in such games and being able to take advantage of it. However, there is also a human element in getting the referee to go there for a VAR check.
Uefa gave and took
Even though the European games for HJK will be this fall, the club earns a hefty sum of money from its matches. The big opponents of the Europa League got people interested and all the home matches were sold out in no time.
– The direct compensations from UEFA, the European football association, are around five million.
The final income still depends, for example, on other teams’ moves and will be determined later.
According to Riihilahti, HJK is first and foremost a breeding club. With good signings, the market value of the club and young, promising players increases.
– There were a lot of clubs here yesterday to watch our players and that’s a really big deal. However, we are a breeding club. We want our players to progress. Now they are in such a showcase that success in one game will get you there.
Riihilahti says that European and Conference League matches are important investment targets for HJK in the future as well.
– This competition is a test board for us, which we aim for. It may not be possible every year, but it must definitely be our goal. This has to be the level we want to reach. Europels are important goals for us in terms of sport, economy and community.
HJK has also received financial sanctions from the European Games. In the Betis match, the spectators running on the field and the Uefa mafia shouts resulted in the club being fined a total of 18,000 euros. Also in Thursday’s match, a sheet mocking Uefa could be seen, which was however quickly removed by the orderlies.
According to Riihilahti, Uefa should take a more relaxed approach to harmless statements.
– We have received really good home support in these games. For someone to sarcastically put up a poster that says UEFA is a mafia, I think that’s just good sarcasm. I think UEFA shouldn’t be so “princess-sensitive”. It (the text) is not discriminatory in any sense. I think it’s completely absurd to fine someone for something like that. Then, of course, there is other disruptive behavior, which I understand very well how to deal with.
HJK will face Real Betis away on November 3 in their last Europa League match. So the club still has an opportunity to increase its European pot for the season, because a win in the group stage will get 630,000 euros and a draw will also get 210,000 euros.
Read also: