ULLEVAAL STADION (Nettavisen): After being injured in the run-up to the World Cup in 2019 and smashing in EC last year and first team seniors for Hege Riise, the past few months have been a huge rebound for Hafey.
The 31-year-old was a strong contributor to Roma winning their first Serie A title, and the national team player was also named player of the season for the Italian capital team.
– All in all, it’s been a dream season, the forward told Nettavisen during the national team’s pre-World Cup match this summer in Australia and New Zealand.
After Roma created their women’s team in 2018, it took five years before they began working on their first league title. After Hafey signed for the club on the eve of 2021, she has already settled into the Eternal City this season.
– I was badly hurt at first. But to now be able to understand the language is to be able to speak and understand what is going on. You feel like you are part of what is happening. And then it takes more time together on the field. She explains to us that we know each other better and have better relationships.
Aside from his brief injury-marred stint with the Boston Breakers, Hafey has spent his professional career at home in Norway. After moving to Rome, she really confirmed the legend of what football means to the Italian people.
– It’s no nonsense that it’s a religion.
The hype about Mourinho: – You get things with you
Roma is one club that has really improved on the women’s side in recent years. Haffy feels she has noticed a big change at the club in the past year alone.
– I feel like I came at a time when Roma wasn’t a big team, but exciting things were happening. I feel like I’ve been a part of that whole journey, and a lot has happened this season, as you say.
The Norway national team striker is part of one of Europe’s biggest and most traditional clubs. While the women’s team took home the Serie A title, the men’s team won the UEFA Conference League last season.
One of the reasons why things are not stable around Roma as a club is Jose Mourinho.
The eccentric Portuguese manager who captains the men’s team has come under fire recently, including for his behavior towards Anthony Taylor who officiated the team’s final earlier this year.
Hafey admits that all the hype that comes with Mourinho is also felt in the club’s premises.
– We don’t have much to do with them, but you get things going with you and I think he’s loved and hated, but I think it’s hard not to love him somehow, she smiles.
She says Mourinho was fired every time she was at the Stadio Olimpico and supported the men’s team.
– I think he was sent off every game I played. She is barely off the bench, smiles, and confirms that Mourinho has also been to the women’s team matches several times to support them.
He will take revenge for the failure of the European Championship
After the failure of last year’s European Championships, where Norway was knocked out in the group stage after picking up just one point, Haig-Reese took charge of coaching.
Now Hafey is also back in the national team heat, and the Roma profile believes there is unfulfilled potential in the squad ahead of the opener against host nation New Zealand on July 20.
– If we make it work together, I think we can be a “dark horse” and really surprise. Then we have to use the time ahead well, says Hafey.
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