Filling stays, and that changes the summer
Kevin Filling is extending his contract. The 26 million SEK bid is dead. The supertalent who scored and assisted in the 2–0 win over GAIS is not going anywhere (1) (6). In a summer window that has already seen Bersant Celina and Erik Flataker leave, this is the single most consequential move AIK could make. Three straight wins since the World Cup break have lifted the side to sixth, two points off the European places, and the engine of that run is a 20-year-old the club just tied down.
José Riveiro called it plainly: "We are here to find solutions" (4). Keeping Filling is the solution that makes the others possible.
The back line is held together with tape
Fredrik Nissen missed the entire week of training (4). Wilmer Olofsson has been recalled early from his Moss loan, a week ahead of schedule (17). Filip Benkovic is reportedly close to a loan return from Shenzhen Peng City, and AIK have been in direct contact (16) (20). This is not squad rotation. This is a scramble ahead of Häcken away on Monday.
The gap is real. Ahmad Faqa chose Degerfors for playing time after AIK wanted to keep him (3). The Bazdar deal collapsed entirely after negotiations with Real Zaragoza stalled (11) (15). One loan recall, one emergency signing nearing completion, and Hervé Matthys making his debut off the bench last week (10). The timing is brutal. Häcken away is the kind of fixture that punishes a patched-together back line, and Riveiro will have to decide whether Matthys starts or Benkovic walks straight into the eleven with almost no preparation.
Matthys himself has the right attitude. "Thanks for the compliments, but I'm here to play football," he said after the fan chants following his debut (10). Compliments are nice. A clean sheet at Bravida Arena would be nicer.
What to watch
Häcken on Monday evening. Three points would make it four straight wins and put real pressure on the teams above. Nissen is out. Benkovic might arrive in time. Olofsson is back at Karlberg and available. One of them will start. That back four, whoever Riveiro picks, walks into the defining test of this European push.
