Mees Hilgers Not Brought Twente To Sweden To Face Malmo In The Europa League

Mees Hilgers is not included in the FC Twenty squad in the Europa League (Instagram/@fctwente).

FC Twenty will face Malmo FF in the seventh match of the Europa League 2024/2025 at Eleda Stadium, Friday, January 24, 2025, early morning WIB.

In the final squad list brought by Joseph Oosting to Sweden, there is no name for the Indonesian National Team player, Mees Hilgers.

Since December 15, 2024, Hilgers has not been included in the list of players in all competitions. In total, in the last six matches, Hilgers did not play for Twenty.

Despite Hilgers' absence, Twente is struggling to qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League.

Their path is steep because it is currently ranked 30th with a collection of four points from six matches.

Oosting's men have yet to win a single win in the Europa League and they are three points clear to enter the knockout playoffs with two games remaining.

"We want to qualify for the next round of the Europa League. We were there. This is what we fought for all over last season and have done everything we can."

"That means you just have to get the (win) results here (two games remaining). That also applies to Malmo," Joseph Oosting told a news conference on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, on the club website.

Oosting further confirmed that he ordered his team to desperately face Malmo to take home three points.

One of the preparations is to learn the strength of the Swedish club which is actually no better than Twente in the Europa League standings.

Malmo is just below Twente or ranked 31st with the same collection of points.

"We don't reward ourselves in any number of games. Overall we played well. We demand the best of ourselves."

"One crucial thing is that we don't win once or twice. We have to break through at some point and it has to happen tomorrow."

"We've visited Malm\" several times. A team with a different game approach than other teams."

"They have a different style of football playing. We thought we would get the answer tomorrow," Oosting said again.

Twenty has a secret weapon in Gustaf Lagerbielke. The centre-back is certainly familiar with the Malmo that is often faced in the Swedish League before moving to the Netherlands.

"They have won many titles, clubs with beautiful stadiums and good atmosphere here."

"I'm looking forward to it. You can see it in two ways. They haven't played any competition games yet, but they also have a long time to prepare for tomorrow's game."

"They play in Europe in November 2024 and December 2024, they will be fit and ready," Lagerbielke said.

Twente's motivation to realize the winning target is increasing considering that it has been confirmed that their 1,800 supporters will attend Eleda Stadium.

In addition to ambitions to pick three points by chance into the knockout stages of the Europa League, Twente also wants to improve the record meeting with the Swedish team.

Twenty has never won on Swedish soil in any European tournament. In detail, three draws and two defeats.

Records of Twente versus Swedish Team Meeting

June 13, 1970 Djurgardens IF vs FC Twenty 2-2 (Interto Cup)

October 1, 1980 IFK Gothenburg vs FC Twenty 2-0 (European Cup before changing its name to the Champions League)

July 15, 2006 Kalmar FF vs FC Twenty 1-0 (Interto Cup)

October 4, 2012 Joint IF vs FC Twenty 2-2 (Erupa League)

3 August 2023 Hammarby IF vs FC Twenty 1-1 (UEFA Conference League)

List Of FC Twenty Players In The Europa League

Lars UlnerstallPrzemyslaw Tyton Sam KarssiesGustaf Lagerbielke Mathias KjoloBas KuipersMitchell van BergenRicky van WolfswinkelDaan RotsSem SteijnAlec Van HoorenbeeckMichel VlapMichal SadilekJulien MesbahiLucas Vennegoor of HesselinkBart van RooijHarrie KusterSayf Ltaief Salah-EddineMax BrunsGijsGijs BesselinkRuud NijstadOwen Panneflek