Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Marcus Christenson

How did Djurgården end up in a European semi-final against Chelsea?

Tobias Gulliksen leads the celebrations after Djurgården’s victory against Rapid Vienna in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals
Tobias Gulliksen leads the celebrations after Djurgården’s victory against Rapid Vienna in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals. Photograph: Dénes Erdős/AP

A visibly moved Bosse Andersson was trying to find the right words after Djurgården had beaten Rapid Vienna 4-1 away to reach the Conference League semi-finals. “I am just bloody proud,” the sporting director said in the end. “Real Betis, Fiorentina, Chelsea and … Djurgården in the semi-finals, that is unbelievable.”

He is not wrong. Chelsea, Real Betis and Fiorentina are European heavyweights while Djurgården have two Swedish Allsvenskan titles in the past 20 years. The Swedish side’s previous best in Europe came 70 years ago – in 1955-56 – when they reached the European Cup quarter-finals, having beaten the Polish side Gwardia Warsaw in the only previous round.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.