Published 09.32
Mikael Marques has stepped up after last year’s injury hell.
Now the centre-back hopes that Djurgården can ride the wave after the 6-0 win against Blåvitt.
– It would be great to give the supporters a derby victory, he says.
It was a revenge-hungry Mikael Marques who entered 2026, having had his first season in Djurgården spoiled by injuries.
Now the center back has started and had a prominent role in the defense when the Blue Stripes kept a clean sheet and beat IFK Gothenburg 6-0.
This afternoon awaits a hot derby against AIK, where Djurgården wants to break the derby trend with a continued stable defensive game, where Marques will be a key player.
– I think we have many offensive defenders who can push the ball forward. And I like it. Then it happens that Siltanen hangs on and can cover up. It has felt quite good to me in the duel game and the whole defensive line has a good conversation during matches, we are becoming more coordinated and careful in how we prepare.
Got support from Bosse
Marques believes that he lived on his speed at times, but that he has now developed several other qualities.
– I have had to learn that after the injury. I have to think more about the position game and things like that. Because it has been that you have done a lot offensively and been able to do it because you know that the speed has been able to save it.
– But now I have had to adapt more to Jani’s (Honkavaara’s) way of playing.
You had a rough time right when you arrived when you sprained your ankle. How hard was it?
– Of course it was hard, but I still had a positive attitude and received a lot of support from Bosse Andersson. He said I should take my time and just keep going, then there was a bit of a setback but now it feels good.
How do you see the upcoming match against AIK?
– It will be fun. Always important to win a derby and we are coming off a good match against IFK Gothenburg last time. We’ll spin it further.
– Then the derbies always live their own lives. We know how we want to play, but sometimes it becomes more that you need to flesh a little more than usual. It usually happens like that in some derbies and you have to be able to handle that.
