Exclusive: Bodø/Glimt Legend Believes Tottenham Semifinal is Perfect Moment to Make More History

For the very first time in history, a Norwegian team will be playing in the semifinals of European competition.

All around the city of northern Bodø, expectations are high and while their task is made even tougher with facing a Tottenham side desperate to end the season on a high, everyone at the club, including club legend Stig Johansen is hopeful they can go one better to etch their name in the Europa League folklore.

Bodø/Glimt reached the semifinals of the Europa League after a pulsating 3-2 penalty shootout victory in the second leg versus favourites Lazio, despite coughing up a two-goal lead in the tie to lose 3-1 via extra time at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Eliteserien club had earlier won the first leg of the tie 2-0 courtesy of a Ulrik Saltnes brace heading into the return leg in Rome, but Lazio came inches away from completing a massive second leg comeback after racing into a three-goal lead in extra time but for Helmersen's effort and Nikita Haikin's shootout saves. 

Stig who made over 258 appearances during his career playing for the Nordland county club says he's 'still in shock' following the crazy game, but reckons they can learn from that when they face Tottenham. 

"I'm still in shock. When you go into a reverse fixture with that lead, and then you're on brink of losing the tie completely, it's depressing", Stig told SportsBoom.com. 

"Not just for me, for everyone. I know the fans must have felt that. It was deflating."

"You're looking at your neighbor, and like saying 'so this is it?'. And then we scored, we scored the goal that gave us back some belief."

"Generally, I can say the performance was poor, we downed tools so much and maybe the first leg performance had us believing we will get over the line."

"But we have played against some very best teams in this competition, and come out with credit, so it happens. We don't want to be in that situation again", the 52-year-old now-turned tourist added. 

FACING TOTTENHAM WILL BE DIFFERENT

Stig who spent time with Southampton during his playing days believes playing Premier League opposition Tottenham in the semis will be a different game. 

Bodø are the champions of the Norwegian top flight and are guaranteed a place in next season's premier European club competition, the UEFA Champions League even if they fail to win the Europa League, but Tottenham will only get in the competition by winning the title as they are far behind the qualification places on their league standings. 

While the Glimt scrapped through to this round thanks to that penalty shootout success, Spurs got their semifinal berth by virtue of Dominic Solanke's spot kick effort in a 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt. 

"A lot is said on the media about the English sides and their bid to win the European prizes, but let's play and stand for what Bodø signifies."

"I'm sure they want to win it as well, it will be a real big achievement for Norwegian football and not just Bodø."

"But just like I said, it will be different, a different one from this crazy game, because we have to get a lot of things right." 

"If you're looking at the path we took to get here, it was not the easiest one. People can easily look at us now and think that's the team to beat to win the title."

"Yes, Tottenham are a good side, a lot of brilliant players but you have to start looking at the bigger picture now when you get to this stage. And maybe no better time to play them, yeah?"