– It is not a wild gamble that it could turn out like this. I think they put the game schedule wrong and should have kept it in the back of their minds, says Häcken’s Anna Anvegård to SVT Sport in connection with the national team gathering in Gothenburg ahead of the Nations League matches against Switzerland and Italy.
Directly after those matches, which are also Olympic qualifiers, the penultimate round and the series final awaits on Tele2 in Stockholm, where Häcken, which is three points ahead but has a goal difference less than Hammarby by one goal, can secure the gold.
“Be the ultimate”
– To be able to secure the gold at their home arena would be the ultimate and you would want to celebrate a possible SM gold with the fans. It’s a match that should be a lot of fun to play, says Anvegård.
Before the season, Häcken and Hammarby were mentioned as two of the big favorites for the SM gold.
“The discussion has been up in previous years”
Hammarby’s Jonna Andersson recognizes the discussion and is frustrated that nothing is happening.
– It feels as if this discussion was up in previous years and this shows the fact that nothing has happened. It is incredibly sad that it collides when there is a battle for gold on both sides.
She is supported by her clubmate Matilda Vinberg, who failed in the WC.
– I’m not really surprised, but it’s incredibly boring with two matches that concern SM gold. You find out too late and you can’t change it, says Vinberg.
Häcken’s men have a game away against Mjällby before the meeting with MFF and can in theory be cut off in the gold battle, but have a European place to play for as an important carrot.