Hammarby were 2–0 up at Bravida Arena and cruising toward a statement win. Then the second half happened. Häcken struck three times to complete a stunning 3–2 turnaround, and suddenly what looked like a revival became a third straight defeat. Captain Nahir Besara put it plainly: "It's bloody awful" (1). The collapse was not just painful, it was revealing. A team that had control let it slip completely, and the questions now run far deeper than one bad afternoon on Hisingen.
Karlsson Under Fire
The pressure on Kalle Karlsson has moved from murmurs to mainstream. Sporting director Mikael Hjelmberg stopped short of backing his manager unequivocally: "The talk doesn't get quieter when we lose matches" (2). That is the language of a man weighing his options. Speculation about Karlsson's future is now the dominant narrative, FotbollDirekt describes the situation as "starting to become untenable" (12), while Expressen's analysis piece openly asks whether Henrik Rydström might be tempted (6). Three straight losses do that to a club. The fact that former Hammarby coach Milos Milojevic has publicly declared he wants to work in Sweden again only adds fuel to the fire (11). Karlsson needs a result, and he needs it now.
Anatomy of a Collapse
This was not a narrow loss where Hammarby were simply outplayed. They led 2–0 and lost 3–2 (1) (3). Häcken manager Jens Gustafsson admitted his half-time reaction nearly involved throwing furniture (4). That tells you how dominant Hammarby were before the break, and how completely they unraveled afterward. Besara's post-match reflection on Hisingen as a recurring nightmare, "I don't think it's possible to explain" (7), hints at something psychological. But Hammarby sit third in the table with 17 points from 10 matches and a plus-12 goal difference. This is not a crisis of quality. It is a crisis of concentration and resilience. Two-goal leads do not vanish by accident.
The Squad Puzzle
Away from the immediate results, Hammarby are navigating a tricky squad situation. The club released Berglund early and is now actively searching for a replacement, described as "a small puzzle" to solve (8) (9) (10). Meanwhile, Häcken's Silas Andersen, who just played against Hammarby, is reportedly heading to Lisbon for a medical, a reminder that the transfer window creates turbulence for every side (4) (5). The Berglund gap needs filling, and the timing is awkward when confidence is already fragile.
What Comes Next
The Stockholm derby against AIK now looms as the most consequential match of Karlsson's tenure. A derby win shifts the narrative entirely. Another defeat, a fourth straight, and the sporting director's "evaluation" may write itself. AIK are dealing with their own issues; head coach Henning Riveiro has flagged a wave of illness sweeping through his squad, with several key players missing training sessions. That vulnerability is real, and Hammarby must exploit it. The season has not slipped away, third place and a strong goal difference prove that. But momentum is everything in May, and right now Hammarby have none. The derby is not just about local pride. It is about the direction of the entire season.
