Latest news with #Midtjylland
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Scotsman
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Hibs Europa League opponents chasing 'crazy big dreams'
Midtjylland chasing titles AND European progress - but David Gray's men stand in their way Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The tactical breakdowns and full opposition analysis can wait until FC Midtjylland have actually broken the seal on the 2025-26 campaign. David Gray will want eyes on at least one proper pre-season friendly – could he somehow sneak out footage of tomorrow's training-ground bounce game against fellow Danish Superliga side Silkeborg? – before beginning full preparations for next month's Europa League second qualifying round tie against a side who fell just a point short in their bid for back-to-back titles last season. We've also moved beyond the initial reaction to last week's draw. Complete with predictably dismissive comments from mouthy manager Thomas Thomasberg – and an equally inevitable response from inside the first-team dressing room at East Mains. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Exactly four weeks from the date of that first leg showdown in Denmark, though, we're beginning to pick up more nuggets on what makes Midtjylland tick. Keeping tabs on their activity in the market. And getting to grips with the vibes of a club who, according to their director of football himself, are chasing 'crazy big dreams' that go far beyond sending Hibs spinning into the Europa Conference League. 'I won't stand and say where the bar is, but I can say that what is being talked about within the walls is extremely high,' is how Jacob Larsen put it in an interview with Danish outlet Herning Folkeblad, the former academy coach adding: 'We are certainly up in the high air. 'And that's something I love. There is humility, modesty and hard work in everyday life - and then there are also crazy big dreams 'We live once, and we're part of the entertainment industry, so it's great to dream. That's also what's going to take us to the next level. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We came in second last season, and you might think that second place isn't completely terrible, but there's still a disappointment in the club. So it's great to be somewhere with power and that crazy approach to always wanting to be the best. 'We are in football to achieve something. We don't just want to be a development club. We want to develop our own players because we believe that is the way we can become Danish champions - and go far in Europe. But it's about titles.' Denmark's richest man exploiting multi-club model Midtjylland are clear favourites to beat Hibs over two legs, with their regular presence in group/league phases of European football giving them an advantage in terms of experience and ability to attract players. Not that the latter is really a problem, given the network built by the club's owner – Denmark's richest man, Anders Holch Povlsen. In a model that many Hibs fans would very much like to see replicated with regard to their own place in the Black Knight Football Club group of teams, particularly when it comes to transfer, Midtjylland have just completed the signing of much sought-after Nigerian striker Friday Etim. The 23-year-old was transferred to the Danish side from Portuguese team CD Mafra – one of the clubs in the Football Collective group created by Povlsen. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Etim represents an ideal example of what Midtjylland hope to do by promoting from within their record, the forward having impressed in Liga Portugal 2 last season – despite his team suffering relegation. He is expected to compete for game time immediately and, when it comes to ambition, the striker is clear, declaring: 'I want to help the team win the championship AND do well in Europe. For me personally, it's about developing and surpassing my performance from last season.' Midtjylland will still be relying on their top strikers for goals at the moment, with experienced Polish international Adam Buksa and 20-year-old Guinea Bissau attacker Francolino Dju leading the line. They've just off-loaded Brazilian forward Marrony, who cost the thick end of £6 million in 2021, for a loss – proving that their data-driving recruitment model can't possibly achieve a 100 per cent success rate. Chairman Claus Steinlein, meanwhile, has confirmed receiving bids in excess of £15 million for Dju and Chilean attacking midfielder Dario Osorio. Steinlein, who also sits on the Football Collective board, also confirmed that he'd consider the 'right offer' for Werder Bremen and Borussia Monchengladbach target Oliver Sorensen. Midtjylland work on the basis of selling one player for a clear profit every year. The academy remains the bedrock of everything they're trying to build. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Just this week they handed a five-year contract to 18-year-old midfielder Sofus Johannsen, who made his first-team debut on his birthday in May. An attacking midfielder described as a real game breaker by his coaches in the development squad, he could be an ideal long-term replacement for a current star. Still smarting over finishing just a point behind champions Copenhagen last season, Midtjylland are fixated on reclaiming the league title. But chairman Steinlein, putting more flesh on the bones of those 'crazy' dreams, is equally keen that his club – who played in the Champions League proper as recently as season 2020-21 – make an impact on Europe. 'We are the top seed throughout the qualification - regardless of whether it is called the Europa League or the Conference League, so it gives better opportunities,' he said, adding: 'That is the first step. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The next step is to advance from the group stage. We have done so every year in the Europa League, but we need to crack the code to make it through afterwards. 'We have always been eliminated in the following round. This is the next development step in Midtjylland's history because I believe that we have the material and quality to go a few rounds further. This is the next discipline for us.'
Scotsman
5 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Hibs players respond to mouthy Midtjylland gaffer's Euro boast
Danish coach may regret 'of course we will' promise over Europa League progress Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Hibs players took careful note of Midtjylland boss Thomas Thomasberg's dismissive assessment of their threat to his team's European chances. And you'd better believe they're motivated by a desire to give the Danish 'big hitters' a bloody nose. Goalkeeper Jordan Smith, who reported back for pre-season training earlier than scheduled because he was so eager to get stuck into a campaign laden with promise, said he and his team-mates had been discussing Thomasberg's casual response when asked if his team would see off their Scottish opponents, the experienced coach declaring: 'Yes, of course we will. We will also advance to the next round in the Europa League.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Those comments have been discussed in the first team dressing room at East Mains since the bulk of the squad reported back for pre-season last Friday. There is a feeling, among the group, that their proven record of winning big games last season – victories over both Celtic and Rangers, dominating the derby and getting over the line in the race for third place with a fixture to spare – should have earned them greater respect. Ex-Forest goalkeeper Smith: 'We need to prove Danes wrong.' Smith, raising the topic himself when asked about a third qualifying round tie that sees Hibs head to Denmark on July 24 before the return leg at Easter Road a week later, said: 'That's the thing with Europe - there's a lot of teams that you've maybe never heard of. Obviously, they're big hitters over in Denmark. 'And we've been made aware of the comments of what their manager has said, and he feels like it might be an easy job to do. But for us it's a case of we need to prove him wrong. That probably makes the manager's team talk a little bit easier. 'We're just quite looking forward to it and as long as we carry on the form, the momentum and the camaraderie really that carried us through last season, then I feel like we give ourselves every chance. Ultimately we want to show what we can do on a bigger level, on a bigger scale.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Asked how the chat about Thomasberg's assessment had gone, Smith explained: 'It was just spoken about in the dressing room, a little bit tongue-in-cheek. They're experienced in Europe. There's no secret about that. 'So that's probably an expectation of theirs, which is absolutely fine. They're entitled to think whichever way they think is right. 'But we've got an approach and a way we go about things, and I think we're very professional in how we approach every single game. No matter who it is that we're playing. 'Thinking back to the Ayr game last season, potential banana skin in the Scottish Cup and everyone's half expecting Hibs to do a Hibs, which is a phrase that I'm not very keen on, but I've heard splattered about. It doesn't matter who's in front of us, there's an opportunity to go out there and win, and the prize for doing that is so much greater this year. So I think that's what we're trying to achieve.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Pointing to the big wins over top opponents, Smith added: 'I feel like we really showed up in those games. The adrenaline's probably pumping a little bit more, which arguably makes it a little bit harder to concentrate, but I feel like we did that. 'We were given a game plan by the manager, and we executed, which is why we got those good results at really good times and that showed the level that we can compete at. And we want to do that more often. We made no secrets about that. 'All we've done now is really given ourselves a platform to go and prove that more often. So, it's up to us now to go and show that.' Extra training inspired by Europa League chance Revealing the extra effort he'd put in to prepare for the new campaign, the former Nottingham Forest prospect said: 'I've actually been coming in before we were officially returning. It's exciting times for the football club and for us as players. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'If you've not got that mindset of wanting to get back to it now, then you're never going to have. I came in between my holidays, because we've got to cram them in over the summer, and I came in this last week before the Friday testing. 'Just doing whatever I can, to be honest. It's really hard to emulate goalkeeper training and the physical demands of being a goalkeeper without an actual goalkeeper training session. 'It's been more general fitness and general gym work. It's being professional to try and give myself the best platform to come back and hit the ground running really which is what I want to do. 'Being a 30-year-old, it's something I've got to keep on top of, certainly a lot more than when I was 22, 23. The first and second beer go down really easy. You start questioning yourself on the third one!' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad European football is obviously an extra lure for everyone at Hibs. Even if Aberdeen's shock win over Celtic in the Scottish Cup final saw the Dons claim the guaranteed Conference League entry that, in different circumstances, would have fallen to David Gray's men. 'With the European football, we had a bit of disappointment, obviously, after we broke up, but we soon got over that,' said Smith, the well-travelled keeper adding: 'We've got a job to do and might have to go about it the hard way, but it sounds like that's the Hibs way anyway. We'll do what we can and try and get as far as we can and give the fans what they're ultimately wanting, which is the European adventure 'Last season we went toe-to-toe with those teams who've competed in Europe and done well in Europe. I think back to the Rangers games in particular last season, we really gave them good games every time that we played them - and obviously we beat them at Ibrox. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'So, we certainly can't fear anything. I think that's the ultimate thing. We've got to enjoy it, but we've got to perform to the level that we know we're capable of and find out where this adventure might take us.'
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
High-flying Hibs can 'absolutely' get by Midtjylland
David Gray hopes the "feel-good factor" at Hibernian can continue with victory in their Europa League qualifier against Midtjylland, which he adds they "absolutely" can travel to Denmark on 24 July before welcoming the Danish Superliga runners-up to Leith in the second leg on 31 July."It's a difficult draw but one the players need to look forward to, I'm certainly looking forward to it, the fans will be looking forward to it - we all really need to look forward to it," the head coach told Sky Sports."There's a real feel-good factor around the club."We've demonstrated already that we're a very good side, there's a reason why we finished where we did in the league, the run we went on doesn't happen by accident. "We've got a very good group of players here who are constantly trying to get better. "We know we need to keep improving, that we don't rest on our laurels. There are a lot of improvements still to come but this is what you want to do when you come to this football club."The opportunity to try and play in Europe and test yourself against top teams. "We're definitely going to be tested, we need to be at the very top of our game but are we capable of getting a result? Absolutely."And we'll be going there with a game-plan and belief to try and get into the next round."
BBC News
7 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Newell unlikely to play in Midtjylland qualifier
Captain Joe Newell is unlikely to feature in Hibernian's Europa League qualifier with Midtjylland after revealing he is targeting a return to training by the start of 32-year-old midfielder has not played since the end of December last year after suffering a recurrence of a groin Gray's side travel to face Danish club Midtjylland on 24 July before welcoming them to Leith in the second leg on 31 to Sky Sports, Newell said: "[My recovery] is going well. End of July I'll hopefully be back training, probably early August. "I've been out a long time now, it's obviously been tough for me to watch the boys do so well. As thrilled as I was, it was tough."It's hard to come in every day and show that enthusiasm and make sure you're not bringing everyone down. "You just want to get out there with the boys winning every week. But it's never about any individual player, I was just as thrilled as anyone else."
Daily Record
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Hibs given Midtjylland lowdown as insider details four stars David Gray's side will need to stop
Rieper reckons HIbs have a 30 per cent chance of advancing in next month's Euro qualifier. Marc Rieper reckons Midtjylland will be heavy favourites to beat Hibs in next month's Europa League second qualifying round. The Easter Road side return to Euro competition next month but have been handed a tough draw for starters. Thomas Thomasberg's side ran Copenhagen close, finishing just a point behind the champions, last season. And with a cast of stars including in-demand Oliver Sorensen, former Celtic defender Rieper reckons his countrymen will take some stopping if Hibs are to get past the first hurdle on their Euro return. David Gray 's side head to Middle Jutland for the first leg on July 24 before the return at Easter Road a week later. And Rieper said: 'Midtjylland have some really skilful players. Quite a lot of foreigners from their line-up with an academy in Africa. 'They get a lot of really good quality players from outwith Europe including Brazilians. 'It will be tough for Hibs. I would say maybe 70-30 in Midtjylland's favour. They are probably a similar level to Celtic and Rangers. Maybe just below. 'But they ran Copenhagen really, really close in the league last season. 'They have players coming back from the Premier League and others who are rising stars in Denmark. 'Adam Bursa is the Polish striker who scores a lot of goals. 'They have a really skilful midfielder called Aral Simsir, I mean really skilful, who they missed in the middle part of the season. 'And Oliver Sorensen in midfield is one of the most talented players in our league at the minute. Box to box. Every game he was running a mile more than anyone else. And a good finisher aswell. 'They also have quality at the back with Mads Bech Sorensen back from Brentford so they have some really top players. 'It'll be really tough for HIbs. But it's two games and anything can happen.'
