Back at Malmö IP after a long bus journey to our away match against AIK.
During the trip to Solna, my "football brain" started thinking positively. Even though I had seen AIK play a fantastic match against MFF the week before, I figured we might be able to bring some points back to SkĂĄne.
Upon arriving at AIK’s home ground, we were met by gale-force winds and the onset of nasty weather.
As a side note—Skytteholm, where the match was played—brought back many memories from the 80s, when I coached the Vasalund men’s team and worked at Skytteholm.
But this isn't about my old memories; it’s about the match between AIK and Rosengård.
When the match kicked off, I had a good feeling that it would be a tight and exciting affair. But boy, was I wrong!
Following a sloppy pass, AIK took a 1–0 lead just 18 minutes in. After that, Rosengård never really got into the game and never came close to threatening the home side—though it took until the final minutes for AIK to seal the 2–0 result. That final goal, by the way, was clearly offside.
It’s fair to say that the Solna side is having a fantastic season. They play with pace and confidence, and the squad features some truly exciting talents. Furthermore, AIK is the only team to have defeated this year’s Swedish champions, Häcken—because, surely, Häcken will secure the league title in the next round.
Naturally, we were all disappointed after the match. We felt that our performance was weak, and we didn’t reach the same level we showed in our win against Vittsjö. At the same time, we faced an opponent that simply didn’t let Rosengård into the game.
To be honest, I was quite critical in the first draft I wrote while we were on the bus heading home. But after rewatching the match, I had to reconsider and rewrite parts of what I’d written.
Looking at it again, I realized that the RosengĂĄrd players stood their ground for the full 90 minutes and never backed down. We were simply up against a better team on the day.
Even so, we remain above the relegation and playoff zone, thanks to a superior goal difference.
There are three rounds left: Växjö and Hammarby at Malmö IP, followed by the final round away against BP.
This Saturday, Växjö visits Malmö IP—a match that could prove decisive.
As it stands, Växjö is five points behind Rosengård. A win is essential for the Småland-based side if they are to have any chance of staying in the league.
I watched Växjö put in a fantastic performance last Friday, holding Häcken to a 1–1 draw until the final minutes. In the end, Häcken managed to secure the win via a penalty, moving one step closer to the Swedish championship title.
But what are my own thoughts heading into these final three rounds?
Throughout my years in both men’s and women’s football, I’ve experienced this kind of drama before.
In my experience, when teams are playing with their backs against the wall and absolutely must win, matches are often decided by the narrowest of margins—and by pure chance. But one thing tends to be particularly decisive: having players on the team who dare to step up and take responsibility.
Players who show courage, aren’t afraid to take the initiative, and avoid just "going through the motions"—hoping someone else will deliver that crucial pass.
You might remember how Hanna Andersson stepped up last year, scoring three goals against Linköping in the decisive round.
Now, let’s hope someone does the same this year—stepping up when it’s needed most. Because that is exactly what Rosengård needs!
As always, we need all the support we can get from our fans. So, I hope to see you on Saturday!
Kick-off at 15:00 at Malmö IP.
See you there?