Malmö FF defender Andrej Djuric scored his first Allsvenskan goal in the 4–0 win over IFK Göteborg at the weekend. The centre-back’s debut campaign for the club took a decisive turn with his first senior league strike.

How did it feel to score his first goal?

Djuric was visibly moved after the match. I was so happy, he told svenskafans.com. In the last two games it had been so close, and now the goal finally came.

The celebration with Sead Haksabanovic wasn’t entirely spontaneous. We had planned it in case either of us scored, Djuric explained. The inspiration for the celebration came from Jean-Philippe Mateta, and later Haksabanovic replicated the move with Dennis Botheim.

From bench to first team

Djuric’s role at Malmö FF has shifted fast. Just months ago he was watching from the sidelines every match; now he has earned trust and a key position in the side. I can only say thank you, he said. Now everything has changed.

Despite his goal, Djuric refused to hog the spotlight. Today it was me who scored, but I don’t want to praise myself too much. The whole team was very, very good.

Immediate analysis after the final whistle

After the game Djuric went straight into a conversation with the manager. Even with the convincing win, the talk turned to improvements. We looked right away at situations where we can get better, he said. The yellow card he received during the match wasn’t even mentioned in the discussion.

Aggression without compromise

Djuric plays with high intensity and rarely hesitates in duels. I don’t balance it, he explained. That’s how football should be played. At the top level it’s normal. That’s who I am.

He also feels he has the manager’s full backing to keep playing his way. I have his support. That’s what he likes.

Second straight win with a clean sheet

Malmö FF’s 4–0 victory also meant the side kept a second clean sheet in a row. It feels good. It’s the second match where we both win and keep a clean sheet, Djuric said. But he’s not getting carried away. It’s a marathon. We have to keep taking one game at a time.

Fresh energy in the squad

Djuric senses a shift inside Malmö FF. There’s new energy. The feeling and togetherness in the group have grown stronger, he said. We’ve built good energy between us.

He also praised the partnership at the back, where he has formed a strong duo with a teammate. We’ve worked hard together, he added.

Malmö FF currently sit sixth in Allsvenskan with 49 points from 30 games (13 wins, 10 draws, 7 losses) and a +13 goal difference (46 scored, 33 conceded). Their next fixture is an away trip to GAIS on August 16.