Elena Sadiku: Swedish trip will be perfect preparation for the season ahead

Elena Sadiku has brought her Celtic squad home to Sweden as part of the preparations for the new campaign. And the Scottish champions will face their first test today (Saturday) when they take on Djurgården in the Stockholm Stadium (KO: 1pm). The Hoops have been hard at work over the past month since returning for pre-season, and the two games they face in Sweden – reigning champions, Hammarby, are next up on Wednesday – will help the squad ahead of next weekend’s Flag Day at Celtic Park against Dundee United (August 10). The two matches will also serves as good preparation for the UEFA Champions League matches in early September. Speaking to the official Celtic website, Elena Sadiku said: “It’s been really good, obviously being home, but I feel that the group is in a really good place. ‘We had a great session on Friday so I’m really excited for the game today.’ “I feel like it’s been a great start when it comes to the activities yesterday and then a great session and it feels like there’s a great excitement over the game. We also met people on the subway yesterday wishing us good luck, so it feels like it’s a good game to look forward to.” Celtic FC Women’s Swedish Head Coach is delighted to have brought the Scottish Champions to her home country, and the Hoops will face two sides in the middle of their own domestic season. Saturday’s opponents, Djurgården, are currently fifth in the table while Hammarby are third. Both teams will test the Hoops, who have a number of new faces in their ranks. “This is still our pre-season and we have new players so we need to work on the performance and work with the connections,” Elena Sadiku said, “and they need to get to know each other in and out. ‘It’s another test and another opportunity for us to get to know each other better on the pitch.’ “I feel that the quality shown in the training, and the excitement around coming to Sweden and playing great teams, gives the players a different feeling than playing against the same teams we always play against in the domestic league. “Hopefully it gives us a great preparation for the start of the season and also the Champions League.”