HJK is trying to knock down Norway’s best organized football club in the second qualifying round of the Champions League.
On Tuesday, Helsinki Football Club will face Norwegian Molde at home in the first leg of the second qualifying round of the Champions League. HJK’s hero defender Joona Toivio played in the club between 2013 and 2018.
The fitness scale of the reigning Norwegian champion is in good shape. In the main league of their country, they have won four of their previous five matches and scratched one draw.
Molde has been in a strong scoring mood lately. In its two matches last week, it scored nine goals.
Among the opposing team’s players, Toivio highlights, among other things, the 25-year-old midfielder Eric Kitolanowho scored a hat trick over the weekend.
– You have to take him in a tight grip. In midfield Sivert Mannsverk is a really good player who should not be given time and space.
– Their attacking play is strong. 5–6 guys are in the box every time. We have to keep the man advantage and catch the guys, Toivio anticipates tomorrow’s match.
Familiar players
35-year-old Toivio played in the club five years ago. The composition of the team has changed a lot since those days, but there are still some old acquaintances.
– Captain Magnus Wolff Eikrem returned to Molde a few years ago. I think he was the vice-captain Martin Linneswho played for a long time in Turkey, Toivio says.
Toiio has fond memories of one of Norway’s best football clubs.
– Everything worked really well and the facilities are fine. Definitely one of the best, if not the best organized club in Norway.
Hectic times
A significant change took place in HJK two weeks ago, when the Helsinki team released its head coach Toni Koskelan and replaced the experienced one Toni Korkeakunnsen.
He was at the helm of HJK for the first time last week in the second leg of the first qualifying round of the Champions League. HJK knocked out Northern Ireland’s Larne from the continuation with 3–2 on aggregate.
Because of the red card he received in the final match of last season, Korkeakunnas watched the Veikkausliiga match against Ilves on Saturday from the stands. HJK won the match 1–0.
Korkeakunnas says that recent times have been hectic.
– First we had to put together our own coaching staff and make changes to the game. We have a really narrow ring at the moment, and this has been about scouting new players. It was bad to go on a trip right away, after which there was a home game. I think there will be a little better rhythm now.
According to Toivio, Korkeakunnas has, above all, liberated the atmosphere of the team.
– We have a lot of quality, but it feels like many have been lost. Now let’s release our feelings and not think so much on the field. That’s probably the biggest thing.
“The current situation is not sufficient”
HJK has suffered a lot of injuries recently. In the next eight days, it will face Molde twice and in the Veikkausliiga, league leader SJK on Saturday.
– When I came here, I had 13-14 fit national team players. We are slowly getting players back. There are hopes that we will get new ones as well. Quite a reasonable situation.
– We have had to do a little recycling here. It is clear that we need new players. Let’s go with Ohkai. I’ve had to take a day-by-day approach to this. You can’t look too far here, says Korkeakunnas.
So are there any further confirmations coming soon?
– Work has been done day and night for it. I’m keeping an eye on the WhattsApp group to see when we get new contracts until the finish line.
– The goal is to play for the Finnish championship and succeed in Europe, so the current situation is not sufficient in that regard. We are not able to play with quality every third day, Korkeakunnas refers to the current situation.