[Footbola Exclusive] Interview with Simon Lundevall

“I’m a bit old fashioned so I don’t really use messenger, but maybe we can do it here tomorrow night? I’m in Greece on holiday so got some plans tomorrow”. He’s Lars Simon Lundevall, 29 years old, key player for Elfsborg IF, and since 2014 he wears the n. 10 shirt in The Elegants team. We thank him again, as one of Allsvenskan’s most valuable midfielders, for having this exclusive interview with Footbola.it.

First question: 15 assist and 6 goals last season for You, best assistman of Sweden. Can we say You’re the most valuable Elfsborg player?
I had a good season but we didn’t play well as a team. I don’t like talking about individuals, expecially when a team doesn’t work so I don’t really know. What I can tell you is that we had some other players who played good as well (Issam Jebali’s 10 goals Gustavsson and Frick’s 7, Prodell’s 9, ndr).

Third year in Borås for You. How would You descrive Elfsborg world and Allsvenskan to our Italian readers?
We had a rough start this season, but I think we have the potential of being in the Swedish top 5. Allsvenskan is getting better every year I think, we had some brilliant progress in Swedish football with Malmö FF in the Champions League and Östersund in the Europa League so it’s getting better. Not so close to Serie A (he laughs, ndr), but like I said it’s getting better and better every year.

You’re 29 now. I know it’s a tough topic, but since You’ve mentioned that, how would You see yourself playing outside Sweden?
I think even if you get older you still have dreams and I hope it’s not too late for me. I have made some good seasons here and if the opportunity comes up of course it’s interesting. But I can only focus on Elfsborg, and my game, that’s what I’m doing now and if something comes up I will have to deal with that, at that time.

It is now 6 years since Elfsborg won his last Swedish title. Now, it’s you, “Frickadona”, Jebali, Holmén and Prodell: very good strikers. What is needed, according to You, to bring back these memories?
At first I think it’s in a change of generation, a kind of. Elfsborg has made a lot of transfers to Europe, Claesson, Rohdén, Sebastian Holmén, Hedlund, Zeneli, Hult, and all of them are doing good in Europe. We have a new coach now, with a new mindset, so I think we’ll just have to believe and work hard for it. And have patience, cause the potential is there for sure.

Several players of this time, as You stated (Hiljemark, Claess

on, Rohdén, Hult) are now about to play the World Cup in Russia. As I’m Italian, I’d like to know whether You expected a result like this because of Janne’s work, or You felt like without Zlatan there won’t be any World Cup?
I think the national team with Janne this year is really good as a team. The defensive structure is really good and I think that’s important for a Swedish team to succeed. We don’t have the individual skill as many other countries. But of course Zlatan is one of the best players of all time, so if he would be fit and wanted to play ofc he should be there. But I think it wouldn’t have been good for the team if he came when he’s obviously not in the best shape. Hard question, though.

In Italy, Genoa, we’ve seen a young Stefan Ishizaki but he was’t good as he is now. Can You tell us something about him?
Ofc, he’s called Ishi here. I’ve seen him play many years, and has been one of the best players in allsvenskan for many years. He’s getting older now but he’s still really professional and still a very good player, had a really nice career with 2 years in Los Angels Galaxy as well. Everybody likes him!

One last question, what do you rememeber of Your city, Eskilstuna? I recently interviewed Mohamed Buya Turay, he almost described Tunavallen as a small oasi where to live and to play football with a special eye to enjoy the game…
When I played in Eskilstuna they didn’t have a good team. We were in the Second Division (Swedish fourth) but I played with a lot of my friends, not professionally. I think it’s better today with Eskilstuna football.