Young Boys out to upset old guard

FC Zürich and FC Basel 1893 are in their familiar positions at the top of the Swiss Super League yet BSC Young Boys are within striking distance on the strength of a long unbeaten run and the Berne club are daring to dream that this could be their year.

'Easier than you think'
A 3-2 victory at FC Sion on Saturday marked Young Boys' fourth straight league victory in 2009 – and stretched their winning run to six games – with midfielder David Degen opening the scoring from a corner early on. "At first I was marked pretty well," said Degen. "Then, when Carlos Varela put in the corner, I was all of a sudden left alone and just headed in. Sometimes it's easier than you think."

Unbeaten run
That sums up Young Boys' season so far. The season could hardly have started less promisingly, with three defeats in their first four league matches but, since their fourth loss – 3-1 at home to Grasshopper-Club on 31 August – eleven of 14 Super League games have ended in victory with three draws. That run has taken Vladimir Petković's side up to third place, just three points behind leaders Zürich, and defensive coach Saïf Ghezal said: "We've played pretty well recently, but we've benefited from other results as well. We had a really good training camp in the winter and are all on the same page. If we keep playing like this, why shouldn't it be enough for the title?"

'Step on'
The Berne club last lifted the league championship in 1986 and, having hauled back a ten-point deficit to the leaders since December, are optimistic of ending that long wait. "We just found the right moment to get hot," said midfielder Baykal Kulaksizoglu. "Now we're on the right path and stepping on the pedal. We want to fight until the end, and we'll just have to see if it's enough." Ghezal, meanwhile, is still not entirely happy despite his team's fine form, explaining: "We're conceding too many goals for my liking, but it's not just because of the defence – everyone is making too many mistakes," although he quickly adds: "Everything can't be going wrong for us. After all, we're third in the league."

Team spirit
That theme of collective responsibility is one that Petković regularly voices, and the emphasis on the squad has paid dividends, with 14 players sharing Young Boys' 50 league goals. "For me there are no regulars or substitutes, only players who give their all for this club," said the head coach. "We are a team, a group that supports each other at all times. At the moment we have a real run, but we have to continue to work with concentration." With Grasshoppers also to come in the Swiss Cup quarter-final – the final of which will be played at the Stade de Suisse, Young Boys' home ground – hopes are high that a season to remember is in the offing. "We have an unbelievable team spirit and play as one," said Degen. "That's helping us win some tough, tight matches right now. We have the potential to win the title."