salubrey. Victor Edvardsen has increased competition at Djurgården since Oliver Berg and Jakob Bergström joined the team.
But the striker is not going to give up the ninth round.
– He says it takes a lot for someone else to come and pick me up like that.
Djurgården is currently in a training camp in Salobre, a little further up in the mountains above Maspalomas on Gran Canaria. Victor Edvardsen had to take an involuntary break from training after suffering food poisoning, but now the striker is back with the rest of the squad.
– I swallowed someone I couldn’t eat, so it’s been a tough couple of days. It wasn’t very fun, says Edwardsen, who was dumbfounded.
– I’m actually in pretty good shape. I trained hard and got a great boost from the national team. Even now that I’m back, I think I’m starting out energetic and doing well. Self confidence at its peak.
What drove you during the vacation?
– Although I felt good last year, I have a drive to want to get better. I would like to go abroad someday, hence it is important for me to be as prepared as possible. Then you have to take a chance and be one hundred percent serious. I feel like every now and then it gives better results.
I made demands
According to Edvardsen himself, there was interest from foreign clubs this winter, but Djurgården had no interest in selling.
– There were teams who called and called to ask what they were asking for and so on. Bids can come in if they have received the appropriate amount. But it wasn’t close, it was far.
Boss Anderson doesn’t want to let you go?
No, he wasn’t keen on that. But then your demands will come back too.
What kind of requirements?
– You should play. Otherwise, it will be difficult for both parties.
Worried about not getting time to play?
Actually, I shouldn’t be. I scored 37 points in my first two Allsvenskan seasons, so it will take a lot of time to dislodge me. It’s where I will play. I’ve been training a bit on the right and playing central for a few games, we’ll see where we end up.
Jakob Bergström and Oliver Berg joined Djurgården during the transfer window and are competing for the same position as Edvardsen.
During training, Berg played in the ninth position while Edvardsen played as a winger for the first eleven.
– I don’t know how they think about it, but if I score nine plus nine in Allsvenskan, in addition to the points I scored in Europe, it will take a lot for someone else to move me like that. There are good players who came in, I’m not saying anything about that. But I still think it would take a lot to get me moving, Edwardsen says and continues:
– I’ve only been training for the time being, I feel absolutely fine. I’m enjoying the top three actually well, but I want to play up front. This is where I score the most goals. We have a very good dialogue, me and the coaches. It will likely vary depending on who you’re meeting with.
How keen are you to leave this winter?
– If anything good enough comes along… I’m still 27 and have been here for two weeks now. If something really felt like a hundred happened, they would obviously have listened. But at the same time, I’m in no hurry either. I had a great year last year and I want to try again.
Allsvenskan tips
While many other Allsvenskan teams play multiple matches during their training camps, Djurgården plays only one match against Las Palmas b.
– I’d better play more. It’s a great place we’re in, but it’s a little sad that there aren’t more teams here or going places where there are more opportunities for more matches. Now some might only be allowed to play for half an hour or 20 minutes, instead of going ten days and having 2-3 matches in the ten days you let people play as much as they can handle. I hope there will be more matches.
Did you take it with Bosse?
No, I can’t stand complaining anymore. Others can do that.
When Sportbladet asked Edvardsen for their Allsvenskan prediction in 2023, it put Djurgården at the top, not entirely unexpectedly, while Stockholm rivals AIK and Hammarby end up fifth and sixth.
– Hammarby have 6-7 starters and left and will be replaced. I think it can be difficult because there are no bad players left. In AIK, Sebastian Larsson and Lustig were like a virus, they were the center, and I think these two could be a very big loss even though they brought good skilful players. What can be difficult when you lose a lot and have to bring in new people is how quickly you can get them together. He says we’re a little ahead there.
What makes you win the gold medal this year?
– That we still have the framework from last year and have brought in players who are hungry and want to be on the ride. We stumbled across the finish line last year, so we’re hungry for more.