MATS SETTLING IN TO CITY LIFE

Mats Møller Dæhli relishing time with the Bluebirds

Talented 18-year-old playmaker Mats Møller Dæhli is settling in well to life in the Welsh Capital after his transfer from Molde FK was confirmed last weekend.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s second signing joined fellow Norwegian International Magnus Wolff Eikrem and the rest of the City squad in training this week, with Dæhli quickly looking to get back up to speed after a few weeks in off season in Norway, with the hope of being involved in the Bluebirds’ Premier League encounter with Manchester City on Saturday.

Clearly relishing life in the Premier League and working with manager Solskjær once again, the midfielder said: “It’s a dream come true for me really. To get the chance to play in the Premier League has always been my dream and when you get this opportunity to play for a big club and with a manager that you know and trusts you, you can’t say no to that - I’m very happy.

“I’ve known the manager since I was thirteen when I went to Manchester United for a first trial, but I only worked under him for four or five months after joining Molde in the summer.

“I look up to him in the way that he is just a total professional in everything he does. That’s the main thing that I try to learn from him - he’s a great coach and I enjoy working and playing for him.”

For any player, perhaps more so for one still in their development years as a footballer, familiar faces always help when settling in at a new club. Indeed, the Bluebirds management are all too aware of the youngster’s promise, with newly appointed Chief Scout John Vik having first discovered his talent for Manchester United.



Then there is of course fellow midfielder Magnus Wolff Eikrem, another Norwegian International that honed his ability in the United Academy system who, along with the rest of the City squad, have more than welcomed the latest City arrival into his new surroundings.

“The lads have been good,” said Mats. “I’ve been around for a week now and have been training with the boys, they’ve been really nice to me, welcomed me to the squad and I’ve enjoyed training this week.

“I think it’s a good thing that I have Maggie (Magnus Wolff Eikrem) here as well, it helps when you have someone you know already in the squad. Obviously it is also great for me to be working for a boss that already has that trust in you and knows what you can do.

“The training sessions I’ve had this week have been brilliant. It’s a higher level, that’s what I immediately noticed in training. This is quite a few steps up from where I’ve been, but that’s what I want. I enjoy that, its high tempo and it’s quick and I love that. I just hope there’s no initiations planned now! I had to do an initiation at Molde as is the case at most clubs, but I’ll have to wait and see what happens here!”

The Bluebirds quickly put Saturday’s defeat to West Ham United behind them to focus on their upcoming trip to Premier League title challengers Manchester City this weekend, with the squad looking to draw positives from an improved second half display against the Hammers at Cardiff City Stadium.

“I think we can try to take the positives from last weekend, especially in the second half,” said Mats. “We played some good football and created a lot of chances – we just couldn’t quite find that goal.

“If we can keep on doing that with the same belief then we’ll have a chance. Obviously we know that Manchester City are one of the best teams in the world at the moment, but hopefully with the belief we have and the performances we’ve shown then we can get something out of the game.

“Of course you know you’re facing a tough task ahead of you, you know how good they are. But you always believe that you can win, anything can happen on the day in football.”

WATCH MATS BE UNVEILED AS A CARDIFF CITY PLAYER ON YOUTUBE BELOW