Daniel Sundgren pushed Maccabi Haifa into the group stage of the Champions League.
Thousands of supporters are now waiting at Tel Aviv airport to honor the team.
– He feels sick, that’s what you’ve dreamed of all your career, he says.
Maccabi Haifa tied 2-2 red star In the return match yesterday in the Champions League. It was enough for the club to advance to the group stage of the Champions League.
He was one of the winners of the match Daniel Sundgren, who scored the important goal 2-1, with a shot from outside in extra time in the first half. When Sportbladet arrived in Sundgren, he was at Belgrade Airport on his way back to Israel.
– He’s totally insane and feels great. There are a lot of supporters here at the airport who want to advance and cheer.
– I don’t think people really understand it yet, he says.
What do you say about the terms of the second meeting where you had 3-2 to go?
– I knew early on that we had a good team after we beat Olympiacos in a big way in the qualifiers. Having played in Greece with Ares, I understood the level. But going down to Serbia, meeting the Red Star with the killer tunnel and what it all entails, was something completely different.
– But of course it’s great that we were able to move on. Playing in the Champions League is a childhood dream come true. In the past, people would sit and watch the lottery for fun. You are now in and will play.
– He’s feeling really sick, he says.
How did you experience the match?
– You were so cool at first. I knocked a few passes and didn’t get it at all. Our start was also a nightmare and we lost 2-0 after 43 minutes.
– Then it was heavy.
But in extra time in the first half, Sundgren scored his first goal for the club.
I got the ball outside the penalty area and I felt that there were not many seconds left before the referee whistled. I rarely shoot, but when I do it is usually dangerous. So it stopped. Then the ball rebounded and entered the goal. It was a very good blow and these Champions League balls bounced a little, while it was a mistake by the goalkeeper.
Feeling when the ball entered?
– Very pleasant. I knew I gave the whole team a boost and then they lost themselves because there were only seconds left in the half. We had previously felt that they were not in a state of mental equilibrium because they were yelling and yelling at each other in the tunnel earlier.
Describe what it was like to play at Rajko Mitik Stadium (formerly Maracana)?
– It’s a really sick yard. There were 55,000 crazy supporters shouting at one. Then the player tunnel that opponents have to cross is 60 meters long. It’s dark, there are graffiti on the walls, it smells like urine and we weren’t even allowed to get warm in the same stadium as the Röda Stjärna. But on another plane and then go in that tunnel.
You can safely say it was a disgusting experience.
What kind of feedback did you get?
– Very positive. It happens this way in these countries. All the fans are so excited and even if you put in a bad effort but scored a goal, you are a god. There was a lot of hugs and so on. You should almost protect yourself because fans want to kiss you on the mouth, Sundgren says with a laugh.
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– But it’s just fun and positive. It is said that there will be approximately 10,000 supporters in our place when we reach Tel Aviv. Maccabi Haifa has more supporters in Tel Aviv than in Haifa.
How big is this for you?
– Huge to play in the Champions League group stage. This is what I dreamed of since I was little. Previously, you used to sit on the sofa only at the lottery and matches, now you have to play there yourself. Too bulky to be able to experience this when you are 32 years old. Now you’ve tested most of them, while you always want more.
– I signed Haifa for a reason, and moving here was better than I could have dreamed of.
Is there a team you hope to meet in the group stage?
– I hope we meet the best. We’re going to get some big clubs, that’s already clear. After all, you want to face as much opposition as possible and play as many big matches as possible.