AaB’s eventual return to the Superliga is still awaited.
On Saturday, it was a 0-1 defeat away to already promoted Sønderjyske, and thus AaB still lacks the one point that definitively secures the super league ticket.
Otherwise, it seemed a long time before AaB would cross the finish line on Saturday. The match in Haderslev was largely an uneventful affair that stank far from 0-0, but AaB made life difficult for themselves.
First, Melker Widell was sent off following his second yellow card, and shortly before time Richard Odada committed the decisive penalty.
– It hurts. It probably hurts the players who were involved in those situations the most, but this is no ‘blame game’. We stand together and must try to take advantage of the next match ball on Friday. We cannot change what happened today, says AaB’s acting head coach, Mathias Haugaasen.
If he had the opportunity, Melker Widell would have otherwise liked to change the fact that he made a fool of himself in the second half by getting his second yellow card.
– I haven’t seen it once more, but I’m getting into the situation wrongly in connection with the second yellow card. I am very unhappy with that, because I put the team in a really bad situation. Right now I’m just sad, says Melker Widell.
Richard Odada was a disappointed man following the setback in Haderslev. It was the Kenyan who committed the penalty that cost AaB the one point.
Photo: Claus Fisker/Ritzau Scanpix
After conceding too many goals in the previous weeks, AaB was back in the 3-5-2 formation on Saturday, which was also the starting point for large parts of the autumn season. It worked for a long time as intended, even if captain Rasmus Thelander was not ready to play and an ill Sebastian Otoa had to leave following less than five minutes of play.
– It was solid, and even though Otoa had to go out quickly, it looked safe and solid. It was a game that we controlled for a long time and in which Sønderjyske did not create much. Even outnumbered, I think we had good control of the situation.
– The formation is of course important for our offensive game, but if we had been 11 once morest 11 throughout the match, I also think we would have created more, says Mathias Haugaasen.
Nevertheless, AaB had to go home from Haderslev with the certainty that promotion is still not definitive. It might be on Sunday if Fredericia scores points once morest Kolding. Otherwise, AaB will have another opportunity to finish the job themselves on Friday when Fredericia comes to visit Aalborg Portland Park.
– We cannot focus on what the others are doing. We want to move up and have had our chances to finish it. We still have more chances and that’s what we have to focus on.
– I don’t think we looked like a team that has lost confidence, but of course it’s hard when you try and try and you won’t succeed, says Melker Widell.
2024-05-11 15:44:16
#AaBs #fooled #downturn #story
