Molde manager and former Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjær is anticipating a tough challenge against Hibs tonight in the Europa League third qualifying round at Easter Road.
Molde have a very good European pedigree and are one of only two Norwegian sides to have competed in the UEFA Champions League group stages.This season will represent their 16th European campaign and they have twice faced Scottish opposition, losing to Rangers in 2006 but winning both times against Celtic in 2015. That campaign was also their best in Europe as they topped the group and qualified for the knock-out stages, where they were defeated by Sevilla.
Solskjær has clearly done his homework however and he is aware of Hibs’ excellent home record.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference Solskjær said:“We come here against a team who are very good at home, loads of enthusiasm, supporters behind their back, and the 3-5-2 is not a normal system for us to play against, so that will cause us a challenge.
“Neil has got the team playing. As he said back when he came in, these boys need toughening up, and he has toughened them up. Their last home defeat was in December so they have made Easter Road a difficult place to come.
“We have been brought up with British football and the atmosphere. Mostly Premier League of course but this is something the players are looking forward to.
“It almost feels like coming home for me because I have spent so many years in the UK, and I know the passion and the atmosphere in these games.”
Molde qualified for this stage by beating Glenavon 5-1 at the Aker Stadion after a shock 2-1 defeat in the first leg then defeating Albanian side Laçi 5-0 on aggregate.
Molde have a young squad that like to play attacking football. Danger man is likely to be 18-year-old Erling Braut Håland who has been linked with moves to the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United.
This season he has scored eight goals in 15 appearances in the league – including a stunning four in the 4-0 win over Brann. He has also scored in the UEFA Europa League netting against Laci.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
