Malmö FF kicked off their pre-season with a 3-0 win over FC Nordsjälland in a friendly match on Saturday. Goals from Adi Nalić in the 42nd minute, Milosavljevic in the 51st, and a finish from Anum in the 82nd sealed a victory that head coach Gaute Helstrup was pleased with.
"It was a very useful training match for us," Helstrup said afterwards. He highlighted the valuable playing time given to many young players in the final half-hour, which he sees as positive for the squad's depth ahead of the coming season. The team, sitting seventh in Allsvenskan with 33 points from 22 games, needs this kind of positive momentum.
Playing time and form
The win against the Danish side, who are fourth in the Superliga, followed an inconsistent period in the league where Malmö FF have three wins, one draw and one loss in their last five matches. Their most recent league game was a 2-0 away defeat to Värnamo, making pre-season successes key for rebuilding confidence. Players like Sebastian Nanasi, who recently impressed with the national team, and the returning Hugo Larsson also got important minutes.
Ahead of the home fixture against Kalmar FF on October 11th, a team currently 13th in the table, playing time for the entire squad is key. The friendly also showed attacking options, with top scorer Eric Botheim, who has ten goals this season, not involved.
Behind the scenes
While the team focuses on the pitch, important processes are ongoing off it. The club recently saw its CEO Jimmy Rosengren leave his position, and financial challenges with significant losses remain despite player sales. Key figures within the organisation, including the sporting director, have emphasised the need to gain control of the financial situation to secure the club's long-term future.
At the same time, there have been positive signs from other parts of the club. The women's team progressed in European competition and won the derby against FC Rosengård in front of a strong crowd, even if the 10,000 target wasn't met. To strengthen ties with supporters, "Berra's Balcony" at Malmö Central Station was reactivated during derby week, featuring guests like AC and Dahlin. Club legend Behrang Safari has also been active in fan events.
Gaute Helstrup concluded by stressing the value of minutes for everyone. "Many young players came on in the last half-hour, which is very useful for us," he stated. The team's full squad list will be key when the tough autumn season in Allsvenskan kicks off in earnest in a few weeks.
Background and full detail: mobil.svenskafans.com
