A highlights clip of <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2024/10/malmo-ff-addresses-criticism-how-competition-drives-improvement-and-success/" title="Malmö FF Addresses Criticism: How Competition Drives Improvement and Success”>Taha Ali‘s intervention in Monday’s match against IFK Gothenburg has gone viral in an unimaginable way.
In a few days it has been seen by several millions on Instagram and Tiktok.
For Taha Ali, it has obviously meant that the phone ran hot for several days straight.
– There has been much more love than you could expect, he says as he steps off the training ground in front of the Eleda Stadium and there also manages to take a couple of selfies with some young MFF supporters.
Taha Ali started Monday’s match on the bench and then had to make a dive that was taken from a Hollywood movie.
Everything went to plan for the nimble dribbler this evening.
He got the match exactly where he wanted it. He turned inside out on Gothenburg’s full back Sebastian Ohlsson and then leveled the score at 1–1. Then the dribbling show continued, which also included a play-through to the 2–1 goal.
Taha Ali in a duel with IFK Gothenburg’s Linus Carlstrand. Photo: Matilda Ahlberg/Bildbyrån
– It was special to come in and score the goal, but above all I came with the attitude that I wanted to dominate and show that we would win the match. There was a lot of action going forward and it felt like there were some mistakes as well, but I still felt that I had the crowd’s cheers with me.
After the video was posted, Taha Ali quickly realized it was taking off on social media, but he didn’t think it would go as extreme as it did.
– Yesterday (Stefano) Vecchia sent me that it had reached over 13 million, which I thought was completely insane. Of course I wonder where it has gone and in which countries it has become big.
Taha Ali brings the commotion with him tranquility He says he doesn’t chase attention, but can still understand the importance of it.
He does not rule out that it could lead to him getting the chance at bigger and better clubs in Europe as his feints, turns and heels are seen all over the world.
– It’s about reaching out with your football to clubs and it’s clear that this can have a positive impact for yourself.
In recent days, speculation has surfaced that Premier League club Brighton and Turkish side Trabzonspor are showing interest in him.
– It’s about continuing to make good efforts. If you make special efforts, it often leads to good things, he says with a smile.
Taha Ali is most happy anyway for supporters and football lovers to show their appreciation and seem to like what he offered.
– For me, football is also entertainment and this shows that many people also appreciate the way I play.
The match and the effort on Monday is written in the history books as the occasion when Malmö FF secured the gold in 2024. Taha Ali was the player who changed the match and took the hero’s role.
Four days later, he himself thinks it is time to move on and not get stuck in history.
– I know it was a good match and so on. But now I move on and don’t put too much emphasis on it.
Read more:
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Ten steps on Malmö FF’s path to the SM gold
The successful coach: “It must be Roy we are aiming for”
