Dubai: Swedish side Malmo FF is confident of re-igniting their Uefa Champions League quest after a successful pre-season training stint in Dubai.
One of the most successful clubs from Sweden in terms of trophies’ haul, Malmo FF hold the distinction of being the only club from the Nordic region to reach the European Cup final. That was way back in 1979 when the Swedes lost to English side Nottingham Forest 1-0 in the final.
The club have won the ‘Allsvenskan’ or the Swedish League a record 21 times, and they also hold the joint record of 18 Swedish Championship titles (along with IFK Goteborg) and yet another record 14 Swedish National Cups (Svenska Cupen).
With two back-to-back appearances in the Uefa Champions League in 2014 and 2015, Malmo FF has missed out on a third following their fifth place finish in the Swedish League last season.
“That should never be a problem for us. We have a strong squad of players and we are confident that our short stay in Dubai will put us in the right frame of mind to win the Swedish crown once again,” Malmo FF head coach Allan Kuhn told Gulf News after a training session at the Dubai Sports City yesterday.
“My main aim is to put in a new playing philosophy in this squad. And of course we want to win a lot of matches so that we can once again play the European Champions League again next season,” he added.
Kuhn took over last month following the departure of Age Hareide following two successful seasons with the Blues. Since then the 47-year-old has been preparing the young squad for the challenges that lie ahead, both in the domestic and European stages.
“We have only trained for three weeks now and our pre-season [training] is going on well. We are just at the beginning and there are further challenges ahead,” Kuhn cautioned.
“Of course, there is a responsibility at the club to do better, if not match what we have achieved so far. We were fifth in the league last year and that is no problem as we have set our sights on bigger things. I think I stand a good chance to hope for better things this season,” he added.
One of the biggest names to have ever played at Malmo FF was Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic when he donned the light blues colours from 1999 to 2001, scoring 18 goals in his 40 appearances in the league.
“We may not have big names now, but I am very happy with the balance in the squad. There are leaders within the team and that is important in my philosophy. They are learning fast and that really is exciting for me,” Kuhn related.
“The goal definitely for us this season is to find a nice way to play offensive football, and of course, to win matches. I think we will achieve the goals we have set. It is very important for the entire set-up at Malmo to see us achieve this goal, because we have a squad and a chairman [Hakan Jeppsson] who both love football and who will do everything to ensure we reach our goals. We will do our best to make everyone happy,” Kuhn promised.
“Dubai was an automatic choice for me personally as I had heard so much about the facilities here. I am happy with everything here, the hotel, the food and the pitches,” Kuhn said.
Last Friday, Malmo FF played FC Copenhagen in a friendly at the Dubai Sevens ground, and later last night they were scheduled to take on Danish side Midtjylland at the same ground.
“The idea was to play tough teams in the friendlies so that I can further gauge this squad. I have seen some good things happening in the last friendly [against FC Copenhagen] and I am sure the players will be hungrier tonight as this is our last friendly before we leave on Thursday,” he added.
