Midtjylland boss in Hibs U-turn over comments as he wants the world to know something about David Gray's men
Thomas Thomasberg has dismissed claims that Hibs should be an easy draw for ambitious Midtjylland, writes Scott Burns from Denmark.
The big-thinking Danes take on David Gray' s side in tomorrow night's opening Europa League qualifier in the MCH Arena.
Midtjylland have been used to recent seasons in the Champions League and at the very least group stage football in the other competitions, but their head coach knows they can't take anything for granted against their Scottish visitors.
Thomasberg stated: 'I have a feeling that somebody says it was an easy draw for us. Not at all.
'But we knew at that time we could have met Besiktas and Utrecht.
'Still with respect, I think that has been a tough opponent.
'But we also know that this will be tough.
'We are ready for what is waiting for us.
'Of course we have the experience. We have tried it before.
'Now it's the first one because when you need to go to the group stage, you play almost six weeks.
'Weekend and midweek.
'I think our players are used to it.
'But I also know that they have been waiting for this game.
'So they are looking forward to it. I know they will put everything in they can, with heart and brain.'
The 50-year-old is now in his third season with Midtjylland and in his second spell as their manager.
He knows the job comes with expectation, but is also well aware of possible European pitfalls.
Thomasberg warned: 'Yesterday I saw Copenhagen. 'They suffered for a long period against a team from Kosovo (Drita). We know all games in Europe and teams have quality.
'We are really prepared and ready for a hard game.'
He wants Midtjylland to make full use of home advantage.
Thomasberg admitted: 'We're looking forward to the game. It's always a part of the club to be in Europe.
'We want to go to the group stage every year.
'This is the first game there and hopefully we can perform well.
'Hopefully, we can get a good start at home.
'A good start is of course a win. If it's possible to win with more than one.
'It is also about getting a lot of good in Europe.
'To get to the group stage. Because that's also a part of the way this club will go. So it is very important for us.
'And no matter who it is in these qualification games. There is only one aim. To get to the next round.'
There is a slight element of the unknown for the Danes, as Hibs have still to play a competitive game.
Thomasberg, though, is confident he will have every eventuality covered. He knows the threat of strikers Martin Boyle and Thibaut Klidge.
He explained: ' Right now we have analysts who have had a good look at it. I have watched two games myself.
'They are a good and strong team.
'We need to do our best to get through to the next round.
'I have seen the game against Essen. There was a good atmosphere at the stadium, I think it was the club's 150th anniversary.
'I have watched some of the games last season.
'I think it was a home game against Rangers 2-2 at the end of the season.
'They are a good and strong team.
'They had a very good period after a tough start last season.
'I think they have players who really play with their hearts.
'They have good offensive players.
'They can get in the box well on set pieces.
'Like we always are saying, we can't underestimate them.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
11 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Hibs Europa League 'history' challenge issued ahead of Midtjylland clash
Midtjylland away provides stern test in first fixture of season 2025-26 Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... David Gray has urged his Hibs players to keep on making history as they look to qualify for European group stage football for the first time. And the Easter Road boss says new record signing Thibault Klidje is available if needed to bring extra goal threat against FC Midtjylland tomorrow night. Hibs remain outsiders to progress beyond the Europa League second qualifying round at the expense of the well-funded Danes, who have played in the Champions League proper and become regulars in the group stages of UEFA competition. Midtjylland host the first leg at the MCH in Herning tomorrow, with the return leg at Easter Road next Thursday night. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Gray, who expects numbers of away fans to exceed the 1000 tickets officially sold for his first European tie as gaffer, saw his preparations disrupted by a five-hour flight delay yesterday. But he's in confident mood ahead of the contest. 'That's the challenge to the players, it's never been done,' said Gray, the former club captain adding: 'Last season we spoke a lot about recreating history in a positive way; we've done a lot of that last season. 'And I think this is just the next stage for that. This is one of the genuine goals and ambitions of this group of players, the club, and a staff, is to try and be the first team to do that. 'I think if we can do that, again it's just something else we can add to the list and then we can keep moving forward. We believe we can do it, we believe we've got a squad that's good enough to do it - but it's going to be tough, we know that Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's about making sure that the players stay calm in the chaos – and that they enjoy it. Because this is something that they've all worked hard for. This is the rewards from last season.' Herning has been a town transformed over the past 24 hours, with hundreds of Hibs fans descending on a place that was virtually deserted as recently as last night. With Midtjylland struggling to sell their home allocation for a 10,000-seat arena, the away support will certainly be a factor. Brondby memories and fans repaid for faith Gray, who famously scored a special goal for Hibs against Brondby in Denmark, said: 'It'll be brilliant. I've got fond memories of being here myself as a player, playing in Denmark. 'As soon as I've seen the draw, all the talk, my friends and family that went to that Brondby game spoke about the trip itself. Some people can't even remember the game, probably because of how good the trip was! Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'So I'm sure there'll be a thousand, there'll be more than that, there'll be more than that in the city, there'll be very noisy, they'll enjoy it. And again, this is their rewards for sticking with us. 'They went through it all last season and these are days they need to enjoy and look forward to and hopefully, as I've just said there, it's the first of many and we can be successful.' Klidje is in the squad and fit to play despite only featuring briefly as a late sub in the weekend friendly loss to Bolton Wanders, with the £1 million-plus Togolese international declared ready for action by Gray, who said: 'Yes, very excited. At the same time, he's only been in the door five minutes so it's something that I don't want to put too much expectation on early. 'He's settled in well. Clearly for the attributes and what we've seen in him is why we wanted to bring him to the football club, so I'm delighted with the business that we've done. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'He's played at a very good level, scored a lot of goals and effects games of football at a really high level. So I think he's a really good addition, 'It doesn't happen overnight. But yes, he's available, he's had a pre-season, so he's safe to do it. 'We got him on the pitch against Bolton, albeit for 15-20 minutes at the end. He's looking sharper every day in training, and he's probably becoming more settled around the group.' On the flight delay that left the Hibs squad kicking their heels in an airport lounge, Gray said: 'One thing I'm not going to do is worry about things we can't control. That's the benefits coming the day before, the kick-off's not until tomorrow night, our flight was delayed this morning, everybody knows that, changed the schedule. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Which is why you put plans in place to make sure that if anything does come up, we've got time to react. We've certainly done that, and the players have now gone to the pitch, they've all trained well, they're ready. 'I think tomorrow night takes care of itself because of the magnitude of the game, the occasion, and the rewards from last season that we've been working towards. Every single minute of pre-season has been towards tomorrow night. 'Why would you not want to play in European football and everything that comes with that? Because you can have a fantastic career and never have the opportunity to play in Europe. So it is one of the perks of playing for a big club like Hibs.'
The Herald Scotland
11 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Middlesbrough to bring bumper crowd for Rangers friendly
Middlesbrough were allocated 8,023 tickets for the pre-season fixture - and it'll be close to a sellout in the away end on Saturday. 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 🚨 5pm today is the deadline to get tickets for Saturday's friendly at Ibrox. This match will be all-ticket with no sales on the day. — Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) July 23, 2025 Heading into the final day of sales for the all-ticket match, Middlesbrough had sold close to 7,000 tickets. Sales ended at 5pm on Wednesday with no tickets being sold to away fans on matchday. Supporters have arranged for fans to wear red as a display in the away section at Ibrox with the bumper crowd set to arrive in Glasgow this weekend. Read more: A Middlesbrough update to supporters read: "It's the final call for fans wanting tickets for our pre-season trip to Ibrox on Saturday 26 July. "Those still wanting to join almost 7,000 Boro fans for our first visit to Ibrox since 2006 can do so here. "Tickets are available until 5pm on Wednesday 23 July. This game is all-ticket and there will be no sales on the day. "Full Allocation: 8,023 tickets "Fan groups Red Faction and the Twe12th Man are urging those making the trip north of the border to make it a sea of red in the away end at Ibrox and help make it an atmosphere to remember. "Rob Edwards' side are taking on a team that finished runners-up in the Scottish Premiership in 2024/25 and reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League."
Glasgow Times
11 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Marcus Rashford says Barcelona ‘feels like home' after completing loan move
Rashford has become the first of United's five wantaway players to find a way out of Old Trafford, landing the move he has desired since January when he instead joined Aston Villa on loan until the end of the season. Barca's agreement includes an option to make the deal permanent. That clause is reported to be 35million euros (£30.3million) and PA understands the deal sees Barcelona cover Rashford's wages for the campaign. 'I want to win the biggest trophies and feel like Barcelona is a huge club in the football world so it is the perfect place,' Rashford said in a press conference. 'You see with the team last season, they have a young ambitious team and I want to add my qualities, my personality, improve the team and help them win… '(It was) not difficult. I was clear on my preference from the beginning. Actually from maybe in January. It didn't work out in January so I went to Aston Villa and enjoyed a good period there. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to play there. 'The summer came around very quickly, it was time to make another decision. My choice was easy. It's a family club, something I'm used to from my past. 'It feels like home. I feel I made the right decision. I'm excited to get going and eager to play the first game in front of the fans.' The 27-year-old came through the ranks at United but has not added to his 426 first-team appearances for the club since being hauled off in a Europa League match away to Viktoria Plzen on December 12. Rashford has been training away from Amorim's first-team squad (Martin Rickett/PA) Along with Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia, Rashford had been training away from Ruben Amorim's first-team squad since pre-season began as they explored their options in the transfer market. Asked about United during his unveiling in Barcelona, Rashford said: 'The situation with United is the club is in a period of change and they have been for a while. I don't have anything bad to say about Manchester United as it has been an important part not only in my career but my life. 'I was grateful for the opportunity to play for them. But football is like life – not everything goes as simply as you thought and this is my next chapter. I'm fully focused on this and trying to improve myself and helping the team win trophies. 'I don't have anything bad to say about United. I wish them all the best and hope they are successful in the future.' 🗞️ Marcus Rashford has joined Barcelona on a season-long loan. Best of luck, Marcus 👊 — Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 23, 2025 Rashford departs 23rd in United's all-time appearance list and as their 15th-highest scorer with 138 goals, having notched a brace on his February 2016 debut against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League. He won five major trophies with his boyhood club and was crowned their player of the year in 2022-23 after scoring a career-high 30 goals, which saw him rewarded with a reported £325,000-a-week deal until 2028. The Premier League club said: 'Everyone at Manchester United wishes Marcus good luck for the season.' Rashford, who scored 17 goals in 62 England appearances, will hope the move boosts his chances of going to next summer's World Cup.
