Anna Anvegård about tough Champions League meetings and national team frustration

On Tuesday evening, BK Häcken, as the only Swedish team, starts the autumn Champions League.

Six different opponents await in the so-called league phase.

- It was probably the toughest possible, says star Anna Anvegård ahead of the meetings with, in turn, Inter, Juventus, Paris FC, Chelsea, Manchester City and Lyon.

- But no one expects us to go ahead, so then there is no pressure on us, we can just go out and drive.

When Häcken reached the quarter-finals of the prestigious tournament in 2024, she was forced to watch the return against PSG from the bench, suspended.

Now she is the team captain during a season in which - after years of concussion problems and other injury concerns - she has had most of the work done.

Last year, the Olympic and World Cup medalist was named the best midfielder in the women's league. However, she then played with an injured knee, which required surgery after the SM gold.

In 2026, she distinguished herself as a double forward when Häcken won the European Cup final against Hammarby last spring.

In the women's league, she has taken the leading role in Häcken and stood for fine collaborations with not least Felicia Schröder (who has now left for Real Madrid) and Monica Jusu Bah (who has gone to Manchester United). There have also been six goals - but the door to the national team has been closed.

In April, confederation captain Tony Gustavsson thought that the World Cup qualifiers came too close to the Häckencaptain's knee surgery. For the June collection, she was nominated again - but later still slipped into the squad after a rejection.

Seven minutes against Denmark (1–2) is the veteran's only playing time since Gustavsson took over the women's national team last year.

Experts have called for Anvegård's name in squad selections.

- I must have had a bit of difficulty getting selected there, but you just have to try to do even better. So it becomes quite obvious that you will be selected, says Anna Anvegård herself about the competition.

How has it been to receive the message that you are not included?

- You've got used to it, it's happened a few times now.

- It's obviously not fun, it never is, but you just have to try to put it aside and try to see it as motivation to do even better in the club team.

Ahead of the World Cup playoffs in October – where the squad is selected next week – she tries to keep expectations down, she continues.

There is also so much else to think about this autumn: the hunt for another SM gold, and the European adventure.

- I am so focused on Häcken and the important matches here, she says before the away meeting with Emma Kullberg's and Olivia Schough's Inter.

- It's my first year as team captain and to lead the team in the Champions League, on the biggest stage ... it's obviously a great honor.

Read more:

All about the women's Champions League: Schedule, Swedish players and the road to the final

Schröder's replacement is a success: "Something you could only dream of"