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Rosengård's Mittag steeled for Wolfsburg

As FC Rosengård visit VfL Wolfsburg, forward Anja Mittag discusses the tie, Marta, her potential record and why moving to Sweden transformed her game.

Anja Mittag (left) in action for Rosengård
Anja Mittag (left) in action for Rosengård ©FC Rosengård/www.striner.se

FC Rosengård will be up against it on Sunday when they visit a VfL Wolfsburg side who have not lost any of their 22 UEFA Women's Champions League matches and who knocked them out in the round of 16 last season. But the Swedish team have a not-so-secret weapon in Anja Mittag up front.

The Germany striker won two UEFA club titles with Wolfsburg's domestic rivals 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam and since her 2012 move to FC Malmö – the club that last year became Rosengård – Mittag has proved a spectacular success, finishing as Damallsvenskan top scorer twice in three seasons and claiming two league championships. In Europe, Mittag has taken her goal tally to 45, just three off the record held by former Potsdam team-mate Conny Pohlers, and with a new strike partner in Marta, the 29-year-old will not be taken lightly by the holders.

Mittag spoke to UEFA.com ahead of the quarter-finals, discussing the challenge of Wolfsburg, her potential European record and why the switch to Sweden has transformed a player that was dropped from Germany's 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup squad.

UEFA.com: What are your thoughts ahead of the Wolfsburg game?

Anja Mittag: Wolfsburg are strong opponents, they've won it twice in the last two years, so they're not easy opponents at all. They are the favourites, but I think we have a strong team and we can cause them some difficulties.

UEFA.com: How much have Rosengård improved since you played them last season?

Mittag: I think we have improved in defence. We've strengthened in that department, and with Marta we are stronger in attack as well. She makes our play more unpredictable. She is among the best players in the world and that certainly makes us stronger in attack.

UEFA,com: You are only three goals away from equalling Conny Pohlers' overall competition record and five from being the first ever to 50 – what would reaching those marks mean?

Mittag: It would certainly be nice to be the first woman to score 50 goals in the Champions League. I would be very happy, but that's not my main objective – I would prefer to win the Champions League. But of course it's nice to have been part of it for such a long time, and it would be nice to get the record.

UEFA.com: Since you have come to Malmo you seem a transformed player – what has changed for you?

Anja Mittag is closing in on the record of former team-mate Conny Pohlers
Anja Mittag is closing in on the record of former team-mate Conny Pohlers©Getty Images

Mittag: For me, it was important to get out of the daily German routine and get to know a new mentality, different players and different styles of play. It has been a great experience for me, the best decision I've made. I've developed well, I've shown that you can count on me.

UEFA.com: How would you compare the Swedish and German leagues?

Mittag: I think the German league is the best league in the world, but Sweden is not trailing them by much. In Sweden they play more aggressive football, in Germany the players are developed better technically and they have a larger number of players. If you compare it with Sweden, the squads here are smaller. In Germany you have bigger squads with great quality.