The injury stopped the offensive midfielder from the earlier matches in the Nations League this autumn. He has been back for a while now – and in good shape.
New York Red Bulls are through to the quarterfinals in the MLS playoffs and Forsberg is delivering on a level that once again makes him a national team player in the eyes of national team coach Jon Dahl Tomasson.
Nice to be here?
Really. Awesome. I'm back in good form. I'm enjoying myself, doing my thing and supporting the national team.
Taking nothing for granted
It's an honor, says Forsberg, who with his 89 national team appearances is the most experienced player in the squad.
Number 90 is waiting for either Slovakia (Saturday) or Azerbaijan (Tuesday)?
I'm taking nothing for granted. We have many good players and a competitive situation. For me, it's about delivering on the pitch. I feel good, completely pain-free, but it's up to Jon, says Forsberg.
He is influential in a New York Red Bulls that will soon face rival New York City.
It's going to be awesome. Hudson River derby. We'll just go there and win.
The goal is set on the MLS title.
We knocked out reigning champions Columbus and are a bit of an underdog. Both Miami and Cincinnati, two of the other big favorites, were eliminated, so our chances are big. If we win, it's going to be huge, says Forsberg.
How is the class of the league?
It's getting better and better. It develops every year. A lot is being invested now that the World Championship is coming to the USA in two years. There are many players who want to be there and the interest is huge. Football is getting bigger and bigger, and so is the quality.
Golf round
Many national team players are currently feeling the effects of a heavy match load. Therefore, Jon Dahl Tomasson announced a training-free day during the camp in Marbella.
Something a jet-lagged Emil Forsberg thanked for. He spent a few hours on a golf round with, among others, Victor Nilsson Lindelöf, Anton Salétros, and assistant national team coach Sebastian Larsson.
I'm going to go out and dominate a bit, says "Foppa" confidently.
Whereupon he toned down his excellence with the clubs. The form is like that.
It's been a long time since I played, but I think I have a good drive anyway. I'll take that with me.
Favorite beforehand?
"Kribba" (AIK goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt) is incredibly good. I'm not as good, but I'll try to keep up. He's the one who set it all up.
