FC Midtjylland go face AGF for MCH Arena on Monday 20 April, with kick-off set for 13:00. This Superliga match dey gather plenty attention as both teams dey look for important points.
Midtjylland come from one 2-1 away win against Brondby for Brondby Stadion. For that match, dem manage five shots on target with 45% possession. Franculino and one own goal from Bartosz Slisz give dem the victory.
For AGF side, dem draw 1-1 with FC Nordsjaelland for their last match at Ceres Park Vejlby. The Aarhus team get 61% possession and eight shots on goal, with Frederik Tingager score the goal.
Head-to-head record dey favor Midtjylland well well. For the past ten meetings, Midtjylland no lose to AGF. The last time dem meet for MCH Arena end 1-1. Overall, Midtjylland win five of those ten games, with five draws.
Top scorer for Midtjylland na Aral Simsir with 5 goals. Junior Brumado follow with 4 goals, while Franculino and Valdemar Byskov both get 3 goals each. Simsir also lead the assists with 5.
For AGF, Janni Serra, Tobias Bech, Rasmus Carstensen and Kristian Arnstad all get 3 goals each. Kevin Yakob dey on 2 goals. Felix Beijmo, Kristian Arnstad and Gift Links all manage 2 assists for the last 10 games.
The confirmed lineup for FC Midtjylland na 3-4-3 formation with Elias Olafsson as goalkeeper. Other players include Han-Beom Lee, Martin Erlic, Mads Bech, Dario Osorio, Denil Castillo, Valdemar Byskov, Victor Bak, Gue-Sung Cho, Aral Simsir and Mikel Gogorza.
AGF lineup also dey 3-4-3 with Jesper Hansen as goalkeeper. Their squad include Felix Beijmo, Henrik Dalsgaard, Eric Kahl, Gift Links, Magnus Knudsen, Kevin Yakob, Jacob Andersen, Tobias Bech, Janni Serra and Kristian Arnstad.
Midtjylland striker Franculino Dju recently give exclusive interview to Flashscore. The Guinea-Bissau born player talk about his journey from Portugal to Denmark.
“I see good opportunity here and I come,” Franculino talk. “The club offer excellent conditions, dem invest in young players, and I feel say na the right place for me to grow.”
The 21-year-old striker believe say he don improve well well since he join Midtjylland. “I think say I don improve defensively, for aerial duels and also physically. I feel better and better, and that dey help plenty,” he add.
Franculino get 55 goals from 105 games for Midtjylland, but he still dey hungry for more. “I always want more,” he talk bluntly.
Injury for December sideline am for about four months, just as his name dey circulate for international press. He dey score 21 goals for 30 games between July and December before the injury.
“Na great thing to play again, but na difficult at first,” Franculino confess. “After so long no dey play, na always hard, but I dey really keen. I dey watch the games and just dey want to dey there.”
The recovery process demand plenty from am mentally. “Na very difficult, but for football we know say these things fit happen. I get plenty support from my family, teammates, and club, and that dey help plenty,” he talk.
Midtjylland still dey fight for Danish title despite their European exit. “The aim na to be champions, and we dey work towards that. I believe everything go go well. We go give our all,” Franculino talk about team ambition.
The striker still no adapt to Denmark cold weather. “I still no adapt to the cold, na always hot for Guinea-Bissau,” he admit. But he guarantee say the weather no affect his performance for pitch.
Franculino dey communicate with teammates through Portuguese, Creole and improvised English, often using humor. His market value dey high according to CIES Football Observatory, but he take am naturally.
“I no know, but if dem talk say na so, na because I dey do something right. E dey give me motivation to keep working,” he add.
The striker never forget his roots for Guinea-Bissau. “I always thank God for everything and for being here. I know say plenty colleagues for Guinea go like to get these conditions. So I get to work for myself and for them too,” Franculino talk.
He dey return to Guinea-Bissau every holiday. “I love Guinea, and I make point to go there every holiday. Dem dey follow everything wey I dey do here, and I think say dem dey proud.”
Franculino know say he fit serve as example to many young people for Guinea-Bissau. “Plenty quality dey Guinea, even pass my own. Dem get to keep working, believe and get faith. Dem fit dream,” he talk.
His message to those wey want follow his footsteps clear: “I know say na very difficult for Guinea, but you get to sacrifice, keep working and believe. Football demand plenty; e no easy, but you get to give everything every day.”
Franculino choose to represent Guinea-Bissau internationally. “I always want play for Guinea. And the truth na say I no get chance to play for Portugal. So wetin I fit talk na say e dey great to represent our country and help anyhow wey I fit,” he explain.
The striker begin his European football journey at Benfica. “I love Benfica and Seixal. Na difficult to make that decision, but I feel say I need something more. I believe say I fit make the leap for that moment,” he recall.
With no immediate space for Benfica first team, he choose to try another area. “E fit happen later, e fit even be hasty step for my career, but I want am for that moment. I think say I dey ready. Dem no think so, and I take another route.”
Franculino contract with Midtjylland dey until 2029. At just 21 years, he don establish himself as one of the names of the moment for European football.
Clubs like Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Roma, West Ham, Arsenal and Everton dey linked with interest for the striker. But Franculino dey keep focus on his day-to-day work.
“I no dey read news much, but na good thing. E mean say I dey do good job. I go keep working to make sure say that continue,” he talk.
The striker get ambition to one day make leap to one of Europe top leagues. “I like plenty leagues, like LaLiga, the Premier League, Ligue 1 or the Bundesliga. Dem all dey very good.”
But present still get important weight. “Dem don help me plenty, and I just get to say thank you. E go be great feeling to fit give something back,” Franculino talk about Midtjylland.
For future, his ideas simple but ambitious. “I want win the Champions League. To be the best for world? I no dey think about that too much, because e no just depend on me. I want enjoy playing, keep doing am and win plenty titles,” he conclude.
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