Victor Lind before the derby: “Of course it’s nervous”

It’s still bitterly cold outside, even though the spring sun is slowly shining over Årsta IP. Hammarby trains at a rapid pace on the plastic turf – the coaches shout instructions to the players in colorful vests.

The green and white team is aiming for the quarter-finals of the Swedish Cup and the first big test of the season when Stockholm gets its first major derby of the year, Hammarby against Djurgården.

– It’ll be really fun. “I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time, it’s going to be great,” says Hammarby player Victor Lind.

Just a few weeks ago The 22-year-old was the main figure in a record 28 million crown deal that saw the Dane become the most expensive signing for an Allsvenskan team, according to Expressen. He left Brommapojkarna and is now expected to be a key player for ‘Bajen’, who are aiming for their first SM gold since 2001.

– It was good. “It’s a lot going on, but it’s a really good team and really good players,” Lind said.

What was difficult?

– Find your way into a new environment. In Hammarby there are better players, better training and everything goes faster. But I think I got in okay.

Image 1 of 3

Image 2 of 3

Image 3 of 3

Sunday will come Hammarby will face Djurgården in the quarter-finals of the Swedish Cup after the teams were drawn against each other on Monday evening.

Victor Lind has already played in the Stockholm derby against Djurgården, but back then for Brommapojkarna. Games that do not have the same prestige as a “real” Stockholm derby.

– Of course it’s nervous, it’s a big and important game for both teams. “But I think when you start, it’s just joy and you’re ready to perform,” Lind says.

Hammarby hasn’t lost against Djurgården since 2021, but Lind had it all the more difficult against the blue stripes. Since coming to Sweden, the Dane has never won against Djurgården.

– We always do everything to win, so we’ll see what happens. Djurgården is also under a lot of pressure and needs to win the cup to be able to play in Europe. If we do our job, we have good chances, he says.

Another derby debutant could be Oscar Steinke. The 20-year-old had a good season with development team HTFF last season.

– The derby could only be seen on television or in the stands. So it would have been really cool to be on the field. I don’t normally get nervous, but we’ll see, he says.

Watch the game live: Are you a DN+Allt subscriber? Watch the game on Expressen at no additional cost

Read more:

Kalle Karlsson new coach in Hammarby: “Great honor”

“If I wear a Hammarby jumper they don’t see me as blind – then I’m a badass”