Manchester United's supporters' club Red Army Gothenburg are eagerly anticipating Saturday's friendly against Paris-Saint Germain in Sweden, the first time the club has visited in a decade.
David Blomgren, one of the custodians of the fan group, told MEN Sport that the match is special because the Reds often tour Asia or America. "It was 10 years ago [the last time] they were here. Zlatan Ibrahimovic came to Manchester, so that was a big thing for the Swedes," he said.
Local fans get a rare chance
Blomgren highlighted the significance for supporters who cannot afford to travel to England. "But now when they are here again, it's [great for] so many people that maybe can't afford or can’t go away to England, they are able to watch them here."
Blomgren and his friend Mats Hornlund are Old Trafford season ticket holders. The 40-year-old knows the costs of following the club. "Now it's better. Now Ryanair is going directly to Manchester, and if you find a good flight, you can buy it for like £50," he explained. "Often it costs like £150 maybe to return."
A lifelong passion
Blomgren's love for United began with Eric Cantona. Growing up in Sweden, English football was often on television, leading many Scandinavians to support clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool, Leeds, and United.
When he and Hornlund were asked to run the Gothenburg fan group a decade ago, it was an easy decision. "For me, football has always been my life," Blomgren said. "When I quit playing football, I still wanted to work with football somehow."
The group started small, with just five to ten people watching games at John Scott's pub. Now, for big matches, they can attract around 150 to 200 fans. "For a regular game, maybe there is 60, 70 people," he added.
Building a community
Red Army Gothenburg aims to replicate the matchday experience. "When we're watching them on TV, we have songs and chants, we have warm-ups, we have quizzes," Blomgren said. "We have foreign players coming here and they talk about their time in Manchester."
Despite being over a thousand miles from Old Trafford, the fans share similar concerns about the club. "I think with the ownership, it was more like three or four years ago that was a big issue here," Blomgren noted. "I think many people have too high expectations because of the history."
On the proposed new stadium, he said: "It is sentimental, the history of Old Trafford... After it was raining through the roof at Old Trafford, I understand that you need to rebuild it. I like the idea of it."
This week, the focus is on the PSG friendly, with Red Army Gothenburg welcoming MUTV and Wes Brown for a feature on Friday. "It's gonna be like a full week of Man United," Blomgren beamed. "I love it because it's another thing we can share with others."
Asked if United should visit Sweden more often, he concluded: "I think so. And it's easy because it's not too far for them to travel here. I know it's a really big fan base here in Scandinavia."
