Underdogs Bodo/Glimt Aims to Stun Spurs in Europa League Semi-Final

Bodo/Glimt, a Norwegian club from the Arctic Circle, looks to pull off a stunning upset against Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League semi-final, despite trailing 3-1 on aggregate. Can they overcome the odds?

Bodo/Glimt faces a tough challenge against Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League semi-final, trailing 3-1 on aggregate after the first leg in London. However, the Norwegian side has a history of upsetting bigger teams.

A late goal by midfielder Ulrik Saltnes gave Bodo/Glimt hope ahead of the home leg. “It was more of a relief that we were able to lift ourselves a little and get into the game,” Saltnes said. “We are still huge underdogs, but at least now it will be a battle!”

Bodo/Glimt have a reputation for resilience in European competitions, having pulled off notable upsets this season.

In the quarterfinals, they staged a remarkable comeback against Lazio in Rome, with Andreas Helmersen scoring a late equalizer that sent the tie to a penalty shootout, which Bodo/Glimt won. This reflects the club's ethos of focusing on process over results, enabling them to remain calm under pressure.

Ulrik Saltnes experienced the highs and lows of European football, scoring twice against Lazio at home but struggling in Rome as Bodo/Glimt's lead was erased.

After the first leg against Tottenham, Saltnes worried about two missed chances that might haunt him, but as he watched the penalty shootout against Lazio, he barely remembered the misses, suggesting a focus on the bigger picture.

“I think they will play very similarly to the last game. We have absolutely nothing to lose, and we just have to attack as best we can,” Saltnes explained.

“We have to keep a cool head – it's no use thinking we're going to win the game in 10 minutes. A lot can happen, and we just have to focus on ourselves, even though we know it's going to be an incredibly big challenge.”

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Ulrik Saltnes once considered quitting football before Bodo/Glimt's recent surge to success, which includes four league titles since 2020.

A key factor in their transformation was the arrival of performance coach Bjorn Mannsverk, a former Norwegian air force fighter pilot. Alongside coach Kjetil Knutsen, Mannsverk shifted the team's focus from winning to performing at their best in every moment.

Bodo/Glimt's Aspmyra stadium, with a capacity of just over 8,000, is a humble venue that hosts more than football. The press room doubles as a classroom, complete with children's drawings on the walls, and is located above a supermarket.

“Of course, making the final would be great, but I don't think it would change much,” said Ulrik Saltnes. “The experiences you have along the way are much more important than where you end up, I think.” The team's focus on the journey over the destination reflects their unique approach to the sport.