On 20 January, Bodø/Glimt will face Manchester City at home. Ahead of the match, Bodø/Glimt defender Bjørtuft gave an interview to TNT, stating that this game represents the biggest challenge they’ve faced so far this season, and that he’ll rely on his instincts to defend against Haaland.
“We know Manchester City’s form has been inconsistent this season, but there’s no denying that their squad still possesses immense strength on paper,” said Bjørtuft. “We won’t underestimate them in the slightest—this will be the toughest challenge we’ve faced so far, and we’re really looking forward to the battle.”
“Looking back at our Champions League performances this season, I think we’ve played quite well overall. Although our results haven’t been ideal, that’s just the nature of the Champions League rhythm. In this competition, scoring goals is extremely difficult, yet you can sometimes concede easily, simply because every team here boasts world-class quality. This is our biggest challenge—and the problem we must fully address tomorrow.”
“Our main goal in participating in elite competitions like this is to learn and grow, making our team stronger. This is our first-ever Champions League campaign, so for us, the most important task is continuous learning and self-improvement, striving to gain more experience in top-level matches.”
When asked whether there was a specific tactical plan to contain Haaland, Bjørtuft added: “I’ll follow my instincts when defending, but one thing is certain—we absolutely cannot leave too much space behind us for him.”
“Everyone knows how agile and fast he is. I’ll also have to go toe-to-toe with him physically and prevent him from getting into those dangerous areas where he can score.”
“Over the past few months, how to defend against the world’s best striker has been a constant topic of study for our entire team—especially for us Norwegian players. So this matchup will be incredibly exciting. Going head-to-head with such a top-tier player, someone with exceptional physical strength, is itself a thrilling experience.”