Hammarby started this year’s women’s league with a 1–0 away win against Kif Örebro last weekend.
Now the Brommapojkarna await the season’s first home game, which, just like in previous years, will be played at Tele2 Arena instead of at Kanalplan.
Sunday’s opponents finished twelfth last year and has for the last two years only hung around after qualifying games. But in the premiere on Saturday, BP managed 0–0 against the expected top team Linköping. And being the reigning champion – with the biggest crowd support in the women’s league – does not mean that you can relax. That’s what Hammarby’s seasoned national team defender Jonna Andersson says before this year’s gold rush:
– It is clear that we want to be there as final winners again, but we also know that it is incredibly difficult to win two years in a row.
– It is important for us to maintain a high level and be connected in all matches – regardless of the opposition.
The 31-year-old has earlier in his career been involved in defending league titles with English Chelsea.
Where is the difficulty?
– Being able to handle that pressure. There are high demands from the outside but also from the club and ourselves, says Jonna Andersson, while team captain Alice Carlsson thinks that the difference from before is not really that much r large:
– Everyone wants to beat us, silence our audience, but it’s something we’re used to and I almost think it’s been like that since we were newcomers (2021), that everyone wants to beat Hammarby, the big club.
Photo: Thomas Karlsson
The new Hammarby trainer Martin Sjögren notes that a SM gold provides a frame of reference for what is required to succeed. Now it’s about reusing a previous recipe for success.
Hammarby has lost crowd favorites Madelen Janogy (Fiorentina) and Matilda Vinberg (Tottenham).
– But the replacements we have brought in have been very good. So our squad has not been significantly weakened, says Sjögren.
– It is a basic requirement for us to be able to win again.
Read more:
Hammarby’s star recruitment: “A thousand people here sound louder than ten thousand in Cityâ€
Missing stars, hot new acquisitions and a veteran who drives on – all about the women’s league in 2024
