VALLE (Dagsavisen): A little over a month ago, VIF had already defended the league title from last year. After the 1-1 match against LSK Kvinner in the last series round, the champions finally got the proof of another series championship.
Veteran Elise Thorsnes (36) won her sixth series title in her career, and believes this year’s gold with VIF is one of the best seasons she has been part of.
– It is difficult to place it, but I think it is perhaps the most superb gold I have been involved in winning. As I have said before, it is the best team I have played with in Norway. I think we have been solid throughout the season and deserve it very much, says Thorsnes to Dagsavisen.
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– We have been so stable
Coach Nils Lexerød believes that both the bottom and top level in the team will improve significantly in 2024.
– We have raised our lowest level, which means that we have lost very few points against the teams that are weaker than us, says the Vålerenga coach to Dagsavisen.
– In addition, we have raised our highest level, which means that we have won the decisive matches against Brann, Rosenborg and Lillestrøm throughout the season. In particular, the fact that we have three wins against Brann means that the series tilts in our favour, he continues.
Attacking star Olaug Tvedten also believes that the team has improved from last year’s season.
– We have scored a lot of goals and it has been a lot of fun to play, especially for me as an offensive player. It’s fun to see how we’ve made progress from last year with the matches we manage to win, which we might not have been able to do last year, Tvedten told Dagsavisen.
She supports Lexerød in that both the bottom and top levels have improved. Thorsnes does the same.
– I very much agree with that. We don’t do the games we had last year where we conceded points. We had one against Lyn, but that’s what we’ve had this year, says Thorsnes.
The Lyn defeat in June is the last time VIF lost in the series. Since then, there have only been three points – with the exception of the last league match against LSK, which ended in a draw.
– We have been so stable. We have used the whole squad and kept everyone fit. The youngsters have had a lot of playing time and learning in both the Toppserien and the Champions League. It’s things like this that the whole team grows on, says the 36-year-old.
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Cup final week
But despite the fact that the series is over, VIF still has a lot left in 2024. And next week already offers two big matches. First up is Bayern Munich at home in the Champions League. Then comes the cup final against Rosenborg on Sunday, which will be a pure repeat of last year’s final.
Back then there was a loss VAR controversies. The Vålerenga players are undoubtedly eager for revenge.
– It stands very high this year, and it would have been very cool if we managed “The double”, says Tvedten.
– I’ve noticed right from the start of the cup. The players have probably put more into the cup than I have, because they are very excited to win that final, says Lexerød.
– We are very hungry for revenge. Both because of the way we lost, but also because losing a cup final is never cool. We have to mobilize everything, says Thorsnes, who has won the cup six times previously.
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