The national team is now in place in Gothenburg, for the first time since the World Cup success to play at home at Gamla Ullevi. A match, with a large audience, that Caroline Seger obviously looked forward to.
But she is not prepared to risk backlash in the healing of that muscle injury in a bet, which caused her to miss two All-Swedish matches before this European Championship qualifier. And also had to relinquish the European qualifying match in Hungary last Friday.
- I take one day at a time, it has been so all the time for me. Not to go ahead of events. It's going in the right direction. There have been many days of rehab, so so far it has gone according to plan. But it's been tough.
Does this take longer than you thought?
- Difficult with muscle injuries because they can behave as they wish. I may not be so used to it taking so long, but a rupture is as it is and heals as it wants to heal.
Getting help with the rehabilitation here under the auspices of the national team, with 24-hour supervision and treatment by two physiotherapists, is extra valuable, says the Swedish team captain.
- We feel good at home, but not at all the same conditions as you have with the national team. The idea is that I may not run with the team fully yet, but do a step up with the physiotherapists, and then I will know immediately whether it is positive or negative.
You have been quite free from injuries. What is it like to handle this?
- It's obviously frustrating. There is nothing you want to be involved with, especially when it is such a good match and exciting. It has been a fantastic year and then you want to be in the final stage. I hope to be able to join in and finish in the best possible way, she says emphatically, and continues: It is not something you learn to handle and think is easier with the years, but it is rather much more difficult and frustrating. You have to buy the situation and make the best of the situation.
Where do you get the strength?
- Very deep somewhere. We are well-liked so we are sports people. You get a negative message and then it is up to the fantastic bike and do the job and hope for quick healing.
The risk is that the time leading up to Tuesday's qualifying match is too short for Caroline Seger to be ready for play. The Year of the International Championships will then end with a away match against the World Champion USA in November. Before that, the Swedish season should end. With an almost inaccessible gold position for Segers Rosengård.
- I really try to be here and now, and feel that I am getting healthy first and foremost. And hopefully be able to play. Then you have to take the next step.
Next step yes, what does the future look like, with the club and the Olympics next year?
- If everything goes as you want, it will settle and become just as you want. I look forward to what is to come if I say so. I have not thought about the Olympics so much, but have been looking forward to getting a contract written and seeing what happens next.