In his 15 Allsvenskan appearances for Djurgården, the long-awaited first goal came for Joel Asoro. The 22-year-old, who came closest from a time in the Serie A club Genoa’s freezer when he was brought in from Swansea before the season, stayed ahead in the derby against Hammarby on Sunday. After preparation by Magnus Eriksson, the forward pounded the ball into the far corner, a goal that meant 3-1 just before the break.
In the end, they won 4-1. An important victory for gold-hunting Djurgården, who has had a tough time in the derby in recent years.
– I have heard a lot of stories about the derby and so, now I felt it was time to turn things around. Everyone felt it, says Asoro.
For the forward, the goal means a lot.
– What a feeling. It was so long ago I scored goals and got to celebrate with supporters. I dreamed my way. Wow, what a feeling.
– But I’m not happy. Now I just want more. I know it’s okay now. I want to maintain momentum and continue to move forward.
When he has to describe time without a goal, it is the word “frustration” that pops up in Asoro’s head.
– I have felt frustration. It’s been hard. When I came to Djurgården I had not played football in a year. So for me it has been hard, it has taken on me. You want to show what you stand for. It was really time to score.
He says that he had an uphill physically to tackle during his first time in blue.
– I feel that I have more strength now and that my body tells me that I can drive. I have worked a lot with physics. This first half of the year has been really hard. I’m grateful they’ve lined up, a real family.
The? Djurgården’s management staff and Asoro’s personal trainer, Sebastian Pisano. Lately, they have been working hard for the forward to make his body work the way he wants.
– Before, I felt so exhausted. After ten minutes on a jump. I could not run. I felt in my body and that I had so many flaws. It’s hard to explain, but that’s how I felt.
– The body did not want. It said no. I have felt that I have not been able to put so much pressure in the previous matches, but this last break was very important to me. We have worked very, very hard. It has paid off.
Why has the starting distance been so long? The time in Italy did not turn out at all as Asoro imagined.
– I was in quarantine in Italy for six months. I did nothing. You could hardly go out to buy food. Of course, I could train at home but in terms of fitness it did not work.
Djurgården’s coach Thomas Lagerlöf is happy with Asoro’s goal.
– I hope that this strengthens his self-confidence, says Lagerlöf and continues:
– He has become more enduring and better and better in the position game. Now it suited him quite well to play against the type of midfielders that Hammarby has. Glad he got to put it in, because that’s probably what was missing a bit. He has made some good innings but not really got to put it in, and it is always great with forwards who score goals.
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