“Proved that I measure up in the league” – Jaro product Axel Vidjeskog talks about the important months last year and about the coaching turmoil in this year’s KuPS

The chaos in KuPS has been a topic of conversation in league football. Jani Honkavaara’s straightforward style has been planted quickly after the early coaching change – he immediately announced that there will be changes, says Axel Vidjeskog.

The 100-year celebration really could have been fringed with fewer question marks.

It is undeniably the picture from the outside as Football Finland sets its sights on Kuopio and tonight’s match between KuPS and HJK. For several years this has been the duel between the rich favorite and the strong challenger.

Just in time for the anniversary match in Kuopio, KuPS has just stood up after months of turmoil. Disgruntled Simo Valakari left the coaching post last winter, local Pasi Tuutti was fired after a weak start and meritorious Jani Honkavaara is now back at his former workplace.

– It has been very eventful and a bit turbulent, admits KuPS midfielder Axel Vidjeskog.

In a recent interview with Helsingin sanomat newspaper tells Tuutti about the short three-month period as head coach in KuPS. He points to, among other things, heavy loss of players and short preparation time as reasons for the lack of results.

According to Vidjeskog, Honkavaara has changed the team’s game since the restart.

– Honkavaara said almost immediately that there will be adjustments. In our DNA is a desire to care for the ball, but he has introduced a slightly more direct game. We don’t have to be desperate to have the ball and make fifty passes within the team before we make a finish. Previously, we were almost a little afraid of losing the ball, but Honkavaara has given us more freedom.

With the return to the football league, Jani Honkavaara immediately rose as the most experienced coach in this year’s league football. Honkavaara, who led KuPS to league gold in 2019, is approaching 200 league matches as head coach.

– He is straightforward in his style and does not apologize. He has skin on his nose.

Will be matched centrally

Axel Vidjeskog received a lot of praise from Pasi Tuutti before the season. The now fired coach believed in a real breakthrough for Vidjeskog in this year’s KuPS.

The 22-year-old Jaro product has started in four of five games so far and also has Honkavaara’s confidence.

– We spoke the first day after he had arrived and he told me that he likes my style of play. He has seen that he can count on me.

Above all, Honkavaara is said to have caught the eye of Vidjeskog during his loan spell at Ilves last season. Then he had to play a lot in central midfield.

– Honkavaara wants to play me in the same position. That means very tough competition, but I’m not too worried. At this level, it will be a tough fight for a place in the starting eleven and I have performed when I have been given playing time.

“Proved that I measure up”

Urho Nissilä, Anton Popovitj and Jaakko Oksanen recently started in the KuPS midfield. Den trion är riktigt Stark med finska ligamåt mätt.

– I knew it would be tougher when Nissilä came back from his injury. At the same time, it’s fun to be in an environment where you have to be absolutely 100 in order to assert yourself and be among the best in training.

– The goal is to play in every match when I’m fit to play. It is a tough but not entirely unrealistic goal. The change of coach has not helped, it has felt like you have had to start over all the time.

Vidjeskog moved to Kuopio ahead of the 2021 season and gained some confidence in his debut year in KuPS. Last year he spent three months in Ilves and was given long-awaited responsibility.

– I proved that I measure up in the football league. I also noticed that good efforts got me noticed all of a sudden. I got to play with the U21 national team and after the season other clubs asked about my situation. In the end, the months in Ilves were a reason why I can compete for a starting place against national team-qualified teammates.

Yle broadcasts Friday’s league match between KuPS and HJK live on TV2 and on The arena. Kick-off at 18.15.