Football Daily Euro Leagues: Champions League underdogs
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Jan 22, 2026 Rafa Honigstein, a football journalist focusing on German football, shares insights on the underdog stories in Europe. Bjorn Mansverk, Bodo Glimt's culture coach and former fighter pilot, discusses how he transformed the team's mentality by applying high-stakes decision-making skills from aviation. Marcel van der Kraan delves into Erik Ten Hag's new role at Twente and reflects on Ajax's struggles, while they also analyze Qarabag's surprising impact in the Champions League and the challenges facing German football.
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How A Fighter Pilot Joined Bodo/Glimt
- Bjorn Mansverk joined Bodo/Glimt after their leadership noticed late-season mental collapses and lack of mental training.
- He adapted mental-program methods from his fighter-pilot background to football, starting with individual sessions then group work.
Build Trust Through Small Group Work
- Run mental work by volunteer then widen to whole squad; start with small groups to build safe communication.
- Use captains to lead discussions and embed processes into match preparation.
Prioritise Process Over Result
- Focus on controllable processes rather than uncontrollable results to reduce pressure and improve performance.
- Prioritising repeatable behaviours lets players perform to training standards on matchday.