Speaking to Soccernet after the 4-0 win over Kuressaare, Nõmme Kalju striker Mattias Männilaan said he was pleased to receive his first senior Estonia call-up after making a strong start to the new Premium liiga season.
Männilaan heads into international duty in good spirits after helping Kalju to a 4-0 win over Kuressaare in their latest league match. The former Kuressaare player opened the scoring, turning in a driven pass from winter signing Bogdan Vaštšuk for his first goal of the campaign. Following this win, Kalju are now the only top tier side in the Baltics yet to concede a single goal during the 2026 campaign.
“Bogdan has shown straight away how strong he is on the ball,” Männilaan said. “I knew that if he found space to use his foot there, I had to be ready. It was a powerful ball and I managed to be in the right place.”
Although the final margin was comfortable, Männilaan said Kuressaare provided stubborn opposition. He felt the early opener, which arrived in the 19th minute, was important before Kalju added a second from a well-worked corner routine.
“Kuressaare do not give you anything easily,” he said. “We were happy that the first goal came quickly. At the start they moved the ball well and created situations around our box, but I do not really remember them getting away a shot. We managed to impose our game.”
For Männilaan, the call-up comes at a moment when he believes his form is in a very good place and capable of producing more.
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Source: https://soccernet.ee/artikkel/esimesel-korral-kohe-varavat-looma-mannilaan-mul-on-vaga-hea-meel-et-see-kutse-just-nuud-tuli
