Nikolai Baden, 24, has just done his first training session with IFK Göteborg – at an extremely rainy Kamratgården.
– I like it, he says with a broad smile.
The Danish striker, who has just finished for Blåvitt on a loan with an option to buy from Lyngby, says that it has all gone very quickly.
– It feels very good. I am very happy. It feels like they have a good plan and a good vision for me.
What were your main reasons for wanting to come here?
– Playing matches, getting playing time. I had a bit of a struggle in Denmark where I had to do a lot to get back again. But here was a plan for me to be able to play matches and get back to the old Nikolai.
After a couple of tough years, and a total of seven years abroad, Nikolai Baden chose to return home to Denmark in February this year.
– I wanted to come home because of some problems I had off the pitch. That was the main reason why I returned home to Denmark.
– I needed to sort all that out first. So I put a lot of energy into that instead of football. If you don’t play for a long time, you have to do a lot to get back into the team again.
Nikolai Baden does not want to go deeper into the problems off the field. But he says that it has all been going on from last summer until this summer.
During that period, the 24-year-old lost a large part of his joy in football.
– The joy decreased a lot. But it was because my thoughts were on everything but football, says Baden and continues:
– When everything is good, you play and score goals, then life is very simple. Then you can do anything in the world. But if you don’t, if football and life outside don’t go well, then it’s hard to feel like everything is perfect.
Now, a year after the problems arose, everything feels much better.
– I feel good. Everything is more or less arranged now. So now I can focus on football again one hundred percent. I am happy and I am happy to be here, he says.
Then Nikolai Baden sees the move to IFK Göteborg as a fresh start.
– I hope to find a new start here, a comeback, if you can call it that. I’m just happy to be here. They believe in me and want to give me a chance.
Nikolai Baden describes himself as a striker with a nose for goal.
– I can score from any angle and I like to do it. I can hold the ball, I can dribble sometimes, but my left foot is my weapon.
Nikolai Baden was seen early on as one of the most promising Danish 00s and made his first senior appearance back in 2017, then in Danish North Zealand. Since then, he has worked for clubs such as the Italian giant Juventus youth team, as well as Dutch Vitesse.
– It has been both a short and a long journey. Many clubs, many different places. Now I stand here after a few good years outside of Scandinavia, which I take with me. But right now I just want to find my way back to the joy of playing football. Then all the doors will open again.
When he looks back on the years outside Scandinavia, he sees the time in Austrian WSG Tirol (2020-2021) and the first year in Vitesse (2021-2024) as his best.
– I scored a lot of goals in Austria (18 goals and 4 assists in 31 games). My first season at Vitesse was also very good (8 points in 24 appearances). Either of the two seasons was the best.
Now he wants to find his way back to that level again, in the blue and white colors.
– That’s the goal. The goal is to come back and find the joy of football. If I do, I know what I can do.
Why is IFK Gothenburg the best club for you to succeed in?
– They had a very good vision and I had some good conversations with them. I know some Danish players who are here as well, and of course I spoke to them about the club to get some information. Sometimes you have to talk to them, because if there was something bad they would say so, but they just said everything was fine here.
What are your goals for this autumn in Blåvitt?
– It is to play as well as I can and hopefully score some goals. I just want to play, be happy, and help the players here. I know it hasn’t been easy for the club and the supporters recently. Hopefully I can come in with some new energy and goals that will put a smile back on their faces.
The Dane says at the same time that he feels pressure about the situation.
– Of course. I know what position the club is in. The team hasn’t won that many games and there have been a lot of injuries. It’s a win-win situation in a way, but at the end of the day it’s pressure at the same time.
– Otherwise you don’t loan a player for ten games. I will come in and make a difference from the start. It’s pressure – but I like it.
Ola Larsson, technical director of IFK Göteborg, told about Nikolai Baden for the Football channel earlier on Friday. Then he told that the striker can already start on Sunday against Elfsborg – if all the papers are ready in time.
Nikolai Baden agrees.
– I am very ready. If you ask me, I can play 90 minutes, but we’ll see. I’m ready. If it’s 90 minutes, 70, 60 or whatever, I’m ready.
IFK Gothenburg’s away meeting with IF Elfsborg kicks off at 2pm on Sunday.
