Rytting Kaneryd praises the mentality of Chelsea’s Swedish stars ahead of the derby duel with title rivals Arsenal
JOHANNA RYTTING KANERYD sees herself as a late bloomer after suffering three serious injuries in her mid-teens and early twenties.
Since then, the Chelsea midfielder, 25, whose side face Arsenal later, has emerged as one of Sweden’s most promising attacking midfielders.
The player, who is regarded as one of Europe’s rising stars, joined Emma Hayes’ ranks in August last year, sealing a move from Sweden’s BK Hacken.
The Kingsmeadow ace, who helped her national team reach last year’s European Championship semi-finals, said: “I had three big injuries early in my career.
“That’s why I feel like I’m a bit of a late bloomer even though I was a young talent.
“I had two ACL injuries. The first was when I was 15 years old.
“Later I injured my other knee and had a bit of trouble with my meniscus.
“I recovered from that but a few years later (2018), the same week I signed for Rosengard, I had an ACL injury.
“In total, it was three years (of playing time) that I missed (due to injuries).”
Rytting Kaneryd’s journey to soccer’s elite level began during her upbringing in Kolsva, a small village in Sweden.
She took up football as soon as she “could walk” with her earliest years playing alongside her twin brother Marcus in a mixed boys and girls team.
The WSL The ace added: “It was a special situation against other teams, especially before the games.
“When they (our opponents) looked at our team and saw that there were girls in it, they almost laughed and said ‘what was this?’
“After the games they didn’t laugh anymore.
“It was nice to look at them after a game (we had won) and say ‘okay, you’re not so cocky anymore’.
Riding Kaneryds Chelsea switch has seen her become one of several elite players from Sweden to join the league leaders in recent years.
Compatriots who have contributed to Chelsea’s silverware success under Hayes include Magda Eriksson, goalkeeper Zecira Musovic and former Blues defender and shot stopper Jonna Andersson and Hedvig Lindahl.
Since her move from Linköping in July 2017, Blues captain Eriksson has captained the team to three straight WSL titles from 2020.
The centre-back was also part of the squad that won a league crown in 2018.
Rytting Kaneryd added: “I heard good things about the club from the Swedish players who have been here.
“It was an easy decision (to move) after I talked to Zecira, Magda and the girls who have been here before.
“Our mentality is the same and we want to achieve a lot.
“I also spoke to Emma just before I signed and got a really good feeling.
“As a manager, Emma has something extra about herself, she is special in many ways.
“I’ve learned a lot from being coached by her. Our meetings are never boring.”
Rytting Kaneryd’s career took off when she chose to move away from home around 3pm and the player later joined Tyreso FF.
That decision would see her join the club’s senior side in 2014.
At the time, their star-studded side included Brazil and USA icons Marta and Christen Press and Swedish midfield heroine Caroline Seger.
Rytting Kaneryd was part of a Tyreso squad that reached Champions League finals in 2014.
The Swedish ace was an unused substitute during the match which her side lost 4-3 against German giants Wolfsburg.
Her senior career includes a two-year spell with Swedish giants Rosengard from 2018 to 2020
Then the club was managed by Jonas Eidevall before his appointment by the Gunners as head coach.
And she could be in line to play against her former boss with Arsenal aiming to close the three-point gap between themselves and the WSL leaders
The midfielder added: “It’s one of those games you really love to play in.
“Hopefully it will be a good game and a great challenge.”