Following AIK Stockholm’s comfortable 2–0 victory over Estonia’s Paide Linnameeskond in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League QR2, head coach Mikkjal Thomassen said the match played out exactly as expected.
“Absolutely nothing surprised us,” Thomassen stated bluntly in the post-match press conference. “Paide has a very clear identity, and they played exactly the way we anticipated.”
Despite the confidence, Thomassen made it clear that AIK did not underestimate their opponents. “You could see throughout the match that European games bring a completely different energy compared to league fixtures. These matches are never easy, but we never underestimate any side. Overall, I think we handled the game very well.”
While AIK largely controlled the rhythm of the match, there were moments where the tempo dropped. “It didn’t worry us,” Thomassen said. “There were spells where our intensity with the ball wasn’t great — but that’s normal. We’ll take those moments, learn from them, and improve for the second leg.”
As for what to expect in the return fixture, Thomassen predicted a similar pattern with one key difference: “We expect a similar game, but at some point, they’ll start taking more risks — just like they did late in this one. We need to be ready and stay in control.”
Source: https://soccernet.ee/artikkel/aik-loots-paide-ei-ullatanud-meid-uldse
