Östberg back home at Umeå
Thursday 15 May 2008
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Frida Östberg (hidden) scored in the 2004 final (©Bildbyran)
Last season a familiar face was missing from the Umeå IK side in their UEFA Women's Cup final defeat by Arsenal LFC – defender Frida Östberg. But with the allure of European competition eventually getting the better of her, Östberg is back and ready to face 1. FFC Frankfurt on Saturday.
Return
After three league titles and two UEFA Women's Cup successes with Umeå, Östberg left in 2006 to join Swedish rivals Linköpings FC. But the 30-year-old returned this winter, playing in both legs of the UEFA Women's Cup last-four victory against Olympique Lyonnais that has earned a decider over the next two Saturdays against Frankfurt, whom the Swedish international helped beat in the 2003 semis and 2004 final.
Great feeling
So what prompted the return? "I missed the big games in the [UEFA] Women's Cup so of course that's one of the reasons, but I wanted to come back and end my career where I started it," Östberg told uefa.com. "It's amazing to be part of this team again and able to play in the final against Frankfurt – who are also a really good team – so it feels great."
New rivals
Östberg also mused on her experiences of matches against Umeå over the last couple of seasons. "When you play against Umeå you don't feel the pressure because everybody expects them to win, so you can just go in there and play against the best players in the world," she said. "Luckily I was playing on the right of defence so I could play against Marta, and it was a great challenge, I really loved it. They were the two best games of the year to play against Umeå."
European focus
Only one team other than Umeå have won the UEFA Women's Cup twice, and that is Frankfurt. Östberg knows the German side represent formidable opponents, but is relishing the extra demands that come with European competition. "There are several things," she explained, "Mentally, for example, you have to prepare well because sometimes you may score a goal in the first minute or you can concede a goal in the first minute and you have to be prepared for that and be strong for 90 minutes and focus."
* Umeå go into Saturday's game in good shape after last night's 5-2 Damallsvenskan win at Bälinge IF Uppsala. Johanna Rasmussen and Karolina Westberg struck before the break and Marta, Westberg and Mami Yamaguchi added further goals, the last coming between two Bälinge consolations. The reigning champions have now won their first five 2008 season fixtures.
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