FotMob Interview: Manchester United and Sweden star Fridolina Rolfo

FotMob Interview: Manchester United and Sweden star Fridolina Rolfo

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There was plenty of excitement around Manchester United when it was announced that Fridolina Rolfö would join the club back in August. Calls for increased backing for the women’s team from the club’s board have been prevalent over the last few seasons and once again the summer transfer window had been quiet.

By Girls On The Ball

With just three incomings and the hope of competing in the Champions League for the first time, the arrival of a player of the Sweden international’s calibre was welcome news not just for the experience she would bring but also the addition of some much-needed squad depth if the team were to compete on multiple fronts. 

For Rolfö is one of the most seasoned and versatile players in the game at the moment. The two-time Champions League winner spent four seasons at all-conquering Barcelona before heading to Manchester with previous stints at German giants Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich.

Sitting down with the 32-year-old before the winter break, Rolfö appears to be settling well into her new environment. 

“I feel great,” she says. “We have many exciting games ahead of us. You always you want to give your all in this last push before the Christmas break and you want to go in having a great feeling.”

“Of course, it’s a little bit rainier than Barcelona,” she laughs. “I think it’s lovely place. I love the city and the people here so I’ve been having a great experience so far.”

It has been a successful start to the campaign for Marc Skinner’s side who are fighting on four fronts. They currently sit third in the Barclays WSL and secured progression in Europe with two games of the League Phase to spare.

“I would say we’re growing every week,” she continues. “We still have to learn. But I think we’re performing really well. We already qualified for the knockout phase in the Champions League and we’re doing great in the league… We just have to continue working on some details to be more decent and create more chances. But I think we have started something really good together.” 

Rolfö had to be patient to get her chance to show the team and their fans what she could do. Having suffered an ankle injury in a Nations League fixture back in June, the race was on to get fit for the Euros. She made it back in time to feature for Sweden’s run to the quarterfinals but needed a bit of extra recovery time in pre-season to return to full fitness.

“I would say [settling in] was a bit tougher,” she remembers. “Of course, you want to go straight into the team but it took me a little bit longer to recover. I had to push it a lot in the summer in the Euros. In the end, it was a good decision to take it a little bit slower. But it also made it a little bit harder to get into everything in the beginning here at United. It feels like I’m getting more and more into it.”

To help herself adapt, she has had to draw on the nous she has gained from a 17-year career that has seen her ply her trade in four different countries. 

“When I get to a team, I want to get to know the players,” she states. “How do they play? What do they do? What kind of movements [do they make]? Where do they want the ball? Those are the main things that you have to focus on in the beginning. But I would say that the people here are easy to get along with and easy to communicate with and that also makes it easier.”

Her integration into the squad after her return has, at least from the outside appeared seamless, developing natural connections with the players around. She scored her first goal for the club in the Champions League, the winner in their 1-0 victory away to Atlético Madrid. She went on to head home the winner over PSG on a historic night at Old Trafford – “I will remember that one,” she says with a smile – followed by an almost exact replica against her former team Wolfsburg. She scored her first two goals in the Barclays WSL, completing United’s remarkable comeback from a 3-0 deficit against Tottenham Hotspur to steal a point just last weekend. 

For her part, she is enjoying the challenges in a league that is “much more competitive than the other leagues I’ve been playing in before”. “Every weekend is really tough and there are many great teams”, she states. “It’s physical and it’s fast… that’s how you want it as a player.”

In terms of the Champions League, it has been an impressive run for a team who are experiencing the top echelons of European football for the first time. Having a player like Rolfö, however, is invaluable to help guide the way of her younger, less experienced teammates. “I know what it is like to play in the Champions League and playing those different teams,” she says. “I’m trying to bring everything that I have, like the way I play and leading by example but also talking to the girls about what to expect.”

They will round out the League Phase against Juventus on Wednesday night and Rolfö expects another difficult test as both are aiming to finish as high as possible in the table. “I saw when they played Lyon and I would say they’re good in transitions,” she analyses. “They are very straight in how they play and they also have individually good players… We have to be prepared because they’re a good opponent and they have been doing great so far.”

After Wednesday’s trip to Turin, there is one more game – a league cup quarterfinal against Spurs – before a hard-earned rest for all the players. “I don’t have that many plans,” Rolfö says with a smile. “I’m going back home and I’m just going to see friends and family. Hopefully, there will be some snow in Sweden so I get to experience the proper Swedish Christmas. That would be lovely.”

(Cover image from IMAGO, with additional images from Girls on the Ball)

For more exclusive women’s football coverage, follow Girls on the Ball on Instagram, and sign up for FotMob’s free monthly newsletter – here.

FotMob Interview: Manchester United and Sweden star Fridolina Rolfo

There was plenty of excitement around Manchester United when it was announced that Fridolina Rolfö would join the club back in August. Calls for increased backing for the women’s team from the club’s board have been prevalent over the last few seasons and once again the summer transfer window had been quiet.

By Girls On The Ball

With just three incomings and the hope of competing in the Champions League for the first time, the arrival of a player of the Sweden international’s calibre was welcome news not just for the experience she would bring but also the addition of some much-needed squad depth if the team were to compete on multiple fronts. 

For Rolfö is one of the most seasoned and versatile players in the game at the moment. The two-time Champions League winner spent four seasons at all-conquering Barcelona before heading to Manchester with previous stints at German giants Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich.

Sitting down with the 32-year-old before the winter break, Rolfö appears to be settling well into her new environment. 

“I feel great,” she says. “We have many exciting games ahead of us. You always you want to give your all in this last push before the Christmas break and you want to go in having a great feeling.”

“Of course, it’s a little bit rainier than Barcelona,” she laughs. “I think it’s lovely place. I love the city and the people here so I’ve been having a great experience so far.”

It has been a successful start to the campaign for Marc Skinner’s side who are fighting on four fronts. They currently sit third in the Barclays WSL and secured progression in Europe with two games of the League Phase to spare.

“I would say we’re growing every week,” she continues. “We still have to learn. But I think we’re performing really well. We already qualified for the knockout phase in the Champions League and we’re doing great in the league… We just have to continue working on some details to be more decent and create more chances. But I think we have started something really good together.” 

Rolfö had to be patient to get her chance to show the team and their fans what she could do. Having suffered an ankle injury in a Nations League fixture back in June, the race was on to get fit for the Euros. She made it back in time to feature for Sweden’s run to the quarterfinals but needed a bit of extra recovery time in pre-season to return to full fitness.

“I would say [settling in] was a bit tougher,” she remembers. “Of course, you want to go straight into the team but it took me a little bit longer to recover. I had to push it a lot in the summer in the Euros. In the end, it was a good decision to take it a little bit slower. But it also made it a little bit harder to get into everything in the beginning here at United. It feels like I’m getting more and more into it.”

To help herself adapt, she has had to draw on the nous she has gained from a 17-year career that has seen her ply her trade in four different countries. 

“When I get to a team, I want to get to know the players,” she states. “How do they play? What do they do? What kind of movements [do they make]? Where do they want the ball? Those are the main things that you have to focus on in the beginning. But I would say that the people here are easy to get along with and easy to communicate with and that also makes it easier.”

Her integration into the squad after her return has, at least from the outside appeared seamless, developing natural connections with the players around. She scored her first goal for the club in the Champions League, the winner in their 1-0 victory away to Atlético Madrid. She went on to head home the winner over PSG on a historic night at Old Trafford – “I will remember that one,” she says with a smile – followed by an almost exact replica against her former team Wolfsburg. She scored her first two goals in the Barclays WSL, completing United’s remarkable comeback from a 3-0 deficit against Tottenham Hotspur to steal a point just last weekend. 

For her part, she is enjoying the challenges in a league that is “much more competitive than the other leagues I’ve been playing in before”. “Every weekend is really tough and there are many great teams”, she states. “It’s physical and it’s fast… that’s how you want it as a player.”

In terms of the Champions League, it has been an impressive run for a team who are experiencing the top echelons of European football for the first time. Having a player like Rolfö, however, is invaluable to help guide the way of her younger, less experienced teammates. “I know what it is like to play in the Champions League and playing those different teams,” she says. “I’m trying to bring everything that I have, like the way I play and leading by example but also talking to the girls about what to expect.”

They will round out the League Phase against Juventus on Wednesday night and Rolfö expects another difficult test as both are aiming to finish as high as possible in the table. “I saw when they played Lyon and I would say they’re good in transitions,” she analyses. “They are very straight in how they play and they also have individually good players… We have to be prepared because they’re a good opponent and they have been doing great so far.”

After Wednesday’s trip to Turin, there is one more game – a league cup quarterfinal against Spurs – before a hard-earned rest for all the players. “I don’t have that many plans,” Rolfö says with a smile. “I’m going back home and I’m just going to see friends and family. Hopefully, there will be some snow in Sweden so I get to experience the proper Swedish Christmas. That would be lovely.”

(Cover image from IMAGO, with additional images from Girls on the Ball)

For more exclusive women’s football coverage, follow Girls on the Ball on Instagram, and sign up for FotMob’s free monthly newsletter – here.