Tokmac Nguen, Champions League | Fiery “Tokki” impresses in the Champions League:

– Being a Tokmac right now is the same quiet boy. Now I feel at home, I have had children and my wife is here, so I am completely calm and well, and that is the most important thing, says “Tokki” to Nettavisen by phone from Hungary.

However, he has not been on the field calmly in recent months.

Hans Ferencváros earned a place in the Champions League at Molde’s expense, and in the most generous group match, the 27-year-old Norwegian has at times been on fire.

Against Barcelona he had a ball into the net that was sadly canceled for offside, but in group match number two, against Dynamo Kiev, he finally scored CL’s first goal for the former Strømsgodset player.

The 27-year-old shoved the ball into Dynamo Kiev’s court, before striking with his right foot. The ball flew into the far corner and brought his Hungarian club down to 1-2.

– It was a great experience to score his first goal in the Champions League, but we were able to quickly take all three points, he says after the 2-2 game against the great Ukrainian club, before he continues.

– One point was a fair result. The goal was good, I got a good pass and hit. I got it where I wanted it, he says.

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He came out live from the dressing room: – He got a bit comical

Tokmac is now getting more and more attention for his achievements at Ferencváros, but emphasizes that he is concerned about being the same person and not taking off.

Because while most players who play in the Champions League tend to be increasingly protected from the media and the outside world, “Tokki” is the example of the opposite.

It became clearly visible after the game against Dynamo Kiev, when the 27-year-old was broadcast live on TV 2 from the dressing room with sports presenter Jon Hartvig Børrestad, also from Drammen.

– Hehe, I just walked into the locker room and Jon (Børrestad, editor’s note) had spoken to me earlier that day and was wondering if he could do an interview. But I didn’t quite agree that it should be live, so I sat with the phone to my face. And my screen was completely black, so I didn’t see Jon or anything. It was a bit comical, but it turned out well in the end, laughs Tokmac.

The function was like a plague on social media, and Børrestad is also very impressed with Tokmac, who was available only minutes after the referee had blown up the match in Budapest.

– It was completely unique. A world premiere, I would say. I know “Tokki” from the Godset era, and I’ve always had a sense of him as a player and a guy. Just look at her glorious smile! says the experienced TV 2 profile to Nettavisen.

He says he contacted Tokmac before the game for a possible FaceTime interview, as the channel was unable to go to Hungary due to the coronavirus.

– He said I should give it a try, and when I heard in my ear during the broadcast that he was ready, I was very happy. I think people saw that on TV too. Incredibly sporty did Tokki – talk about bidding for himself. It deserves more attention, I think, so much fun that it took time for us. That he, too, was in the closet was completely coconut. From the most sacred. Cannon, sums up Børrestad.

Comedian Håvard Lilleheie, among others, also noted and praised Tokmac’s interview after the match:

– Don’t think the level is terribly high

However, it is in the “Tokki” field that above all else he has shown great form lately.

He was very influential in the first qualifying game against Molde, and has remained fit in the Champions League.

In the group with Barcelona, ​​Dynamo Kiev and Juventus, there is no opposition from the Norwegian, who points out that he goes to the big games with the attitude of looking ahead, rather than fear.

– I want to see how I manage playing against the best, and that is the mentality with which I have entered every game. So I think that may be one of the reasons why I’ve been shown that way, he says.

The opening match against Barcelona ended in a great 1-5 loss, but “Tokki” was shown some of what lives on in him anyway. He first put the ball in the goal before it went offside, before being brought down by Gerard Piqué inside the area.

Also read: Tokmac showed class against Barcelona: – The most impressive player on the pitch

He ended up with a red card and marching orders for Barca’s star cap, before Ihor Kharatin was reduced to 1-3.

Tokmac says he’s surprised the rank among the best isn’t more of a deterrent.

– I don’t think the level is that frighteningly high, and I had the same feeling when I played in the Europa League last year. I was a little excited and wanted to see the level, and then I thought it was not as high as I thought. Then we got to the Champions League and at least I really wanted to see how he was there. And again, this would mean that you have to spend on these processes.

– Does it say something about what level you are currently at?

– It may well be, but I think the games here suit me better than most of the team. You get a lot in one-on-one situations and you have a lot of space, and that suits me well. Especially against Barcelona, ​​I noticed that he had a lot of space, and I felt that it was going to be dangerous every time he came out of what was happening, he says and embarks on a mini-analysis of which is his favorite team.

– Against Getafe in the game that we have before us, it was a bit the same. On offense there was a lot of room for Getafe players. We had great chances where we were able to score, so it was a special match.

Hans Ferencváros finished in a difficult CL group, and next time the great Italian team, Juventus, is waiting.

Then “Tokki” will have to compete with, among others, Leonardo Bonucci in the central defense of Juve in what will be a new opportunity to show himself on the biggest stage of European club football.

– It’s the biggest showcase. We are very honest in the team and we know that it is a way to show ourselves, but it doesn’t help if you let in 10 goals a game and don’t do anything offensive. We try to work well as a team, and within the goals we have set for ourselves, I think we can show ourselves.

He will not speak to the national team

Performance in Europe has increased external pressure on Nguen.

However, there is nothing it cannot handle.

– I’m not 18 years old and it’s not like I sit at home and think “wow, that’s cool,” he says.

He adds that good performances will always attract attention, but points out that he goes to each game with “great joy for what he does.”

– I just think “let me put myself to the test” instead of thinking that I can change clubs or be sold. Rather, I think I’ll go out and have fun, he says.

The question is whether he will eventually be able to play football for the national team as well. After joining the raw team for matches against Serbia, Romania and Northern Ireland, he had to settle for the last straw when the team was shaved.

Several have argued that the 27-year-old should get a place in Lars Lagerbäck’s team, and the next opportunity may come on Monday when the team is eliminated for matches against Israel, Romania and Austria.

– It’s not something I particularly think about. I have some of those questions, but what should I say? I do what I have to do and what I do does not depend on what the national team’s leadership says or thinks. I do what I do, and then we’ll see in the end, but if they take me out, of course it’s something I’ve dreamed of since I was little, he concludes.