There are not many Nordic clubs left to play in Europe, in fact only Bodø/Glimt face Lazio in the quarter-finals of the Europa League and Djurgården have expectations that Tokmac Nguen will make up for the loss to Djurgården in the Conference League.
Djurgården lost 0 – 1 at home against Rapid Wien
Reacts to expectations: “I’ve never been a top scorer”
Tokmac Nguen has played as a centre-forward for Djurgården in recent games, but the former Strømsgodset player doesn’t quite understand why anyone expects him to be the big goalscorer who can lead the team further in Europe.
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In an interview with Aftonbladet, he takes a small stand against the high expectations after playing striker in both games against Paphos in the last eight of the Conference League. Now Djurgården will try to turn around the 0-1 loss away to Rapid Wien Allianz Stadion on Thursday night in the quarter-finals, but Nguen does not feel that it is his role alone to ensure the goals.
“I don’t really know where all these expectations come from,” he says. “But I understand that people want to see goals. I also want to score – I love doing it, and it’s a big passion of mine. But in the end, it’s going well anyway.”
“Never Have I Ever been a 20-goal scorer”
Nguen has only once in his career – for Ferencvaros in the 2020/21 season – scored double-digit goals in a single season. He emphasizes that he is not the type of player who can guarantee a stream of goals.
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“I’ve never been the one to deliver 20 goals in a season – that’s just not the type of player I am,” he explains. “So I don’t go around constantly thinking about goals. But I am an important piece in our attack when it comes to creating chances and contributing in other ways. That’s where I have to be good. Of course I should also score, but there are several of us who have to take responsibility.”
Can’t wait to get his chance
Nguen had to sit out the first leg against Rapid Vienna due to quarantine, but on Thursday night he will be back and will probably start as a striker again – a role he has had in two of the first three Allsvenskan games this season.
“This will be a big fight, a fight that really matters,” says the 31-year-old Norwegian. “I didn’t get to be in the first one, so now I’m looking forward to it even more.”
Djurgården will be hoping that Nguen, either as a goalscorer or a chance creator, can help them turn the game around and take a step closer to the semi-finals of the Conference League.
