HJK head coach Toni Korkeakunnas admits that the club needs a new goalkeeper to replace the injured Dejan Iliev. We are going to knock down Molde through a tight defense.
The reigning Finnish champion HJK was forced into a tight gap at Seinäjoki as a guest of SJK at the weekend, when the first and second goalkeepers enjoyed the status Jesse Öst and Dejan Iliev dropped out of the playing lineup.
The club announced on Tuesday that the season of Iliev, who was injured at the beginning of the match over the weekend, ended with an elbow injury that required surgery.
Öst, on the other hand, received a knock on his shoulder a week ago in the first leg against Molde FK, when the Norwegian striker knocked him to the surface of the field in a centering situation.
– It has happened and happened to our goalkeepers recently. The second team Klubi 04 also had several concussions within a couple of weeks, HJK’s head coach Toni Korkeakunnas sigh over the phone from the airport.
On Tuesday afternoon, HJK traveled to Norway, where they will face Molde in the important second leg of the Champions League. In Helsinki a week ago, the reigning Norwegian champion, who went into the match as the favorite, was left at the feet of the people from Helsinki in Töölö, when he was responsible for the only hit of the game Top Middle.
– The starting points for the second match are reasonably good despite the injuries. We get off to a good start, Korkekunnas says.
Now the goalkeeper situation of the Helsinki club looks a little brighter. Only 18 years old as a guest of SJK Alex Ramula got to show off his skills and ended up stealing the show.
Öst, on the other hand, trained fully on Monday after a broken weekend. In the future, Öst is the more experienced starter of the two, but according to Korkeakunnas, nothing has been decided yet.
– Let’s see Jesse’s fitness. The most important thing is that we got to the trip with two healthy goalkeepers, so we can’t get through this.
Öst himself says he is ready for the field.
– Now I have to be in good shape, Öst laughs.
HJK heads to the goalkeeper market
The head coach Toni Korkeakunnas admits that HJK needs a new quality goalkeeper to replace the injured Iliev.
– However, we play more competitions with two teams. It would be good for our organization to have one more goalkeeper.
– All the world’s markets are inspected and we see what can be found. Our scout team is currently working, but at this stage it is still too early to speculate, Korkeakunnas points out.
Humble against the early favourites
Korkeakunnas expects a similar defensive battle as in the first leg. The Norwegians had 63 percent of possession and created half as many scoring attempts.
– The moments when we have the ball, we have to create a threat and be dangerous. Our offensive game has gone structurally forward match by match.
HJK has scored six goals in four games under Korkeakunnas. HJK leads the match series with Topi Keskinen’s individual performance shown below 1–0.
HJK, disciplined by injuries, needs a fighting attitude again at Molde’s home sanctuary.
– We still have to work hard. At home, Molde couldn’t get into our shape and tight defensive play is the key to luck this time as well.
Öst agrees with his head coach’s view.
– The team has a good feeling after the important SJK win. I think we are in good shape when the referee blows the whistle.
The significance of Wednesday’s match is huge.
The winner of the match pair continues to the third qualifying round, which means at least a place in the group stage of the Conference League.
Although in recent years, Helsinki has become accustomed to Europelie success, a win would be a big feather in the hat again. The financial importance of the block site would also be great for HJK.
– That would be a great achievement. In recent years, HJK has offered this delicacy, but every year it is always more difficult. In Europe, even the big clubs in smaller countries have big investments and the competition is tough, says Korkeakunnas.
According to Korkeakunnas, progressing to the next stage requires key success despite the advantage.
– The team has shown during our short time together that it can stretch and wants to work together to win games. We have nothing to fear here, only something to win.
Tomorrow, Wednesday at 20:00, HJK will face Molde in the second part of the Champions League qualification.