Blakstad relishing Women's Champions League challenge with Hammarby

STOCKHOLM - Hammarby's Julie Blakstad has already experienced a dizzying array of highs and lows in football despite being only 23, and facing former club Manchester City in the Women's Champions League this week will be the latest twist in her ongoing saga.

The winger has scored landmark goals, commanded a remarkable transfer fee for a teenaged female footballer and suffered some humiliating defeats before fulfilling her dream of Champions League football this season with the Swedish side.

"As a football player, the Champions League (fixtures) are definitely the best games to play, you get to be out there on the big stage, there's a lot of people watching, and it's the best players in the world you're facing," Blakstad told Reuters.

"I always said that I want to be out there and play against the best players in the world, and that was one of the big things that brought me here to Hammarby – obviously the fans and the club, but also the opportunity to get to play Champions League games."

Sitting after training in a packed cafe in the Swedish capital with her Hammarby backpack at her feet, the young Norwegian exuded a combination of youthful exuberance and hard-won experience as she spoke freely about her career to date.

Blakstad made her breakthrough as a teenager in her native Norway before becoming a marquee signing for Rosenborg in Trondheim as they kick-started their women’s team, going on to score their historic first goal in the domestic top-flight.

Equipped with strength, stamina and a tremendous left foot, she soon found herself sold to City for a reported 196,000 euros ($206,329) and called up to the senior international team.

However, a lack of playing time at her new club and a heavy defeat by England at Euro 2022