AIK boss refused to ask friend Mjallby for help ahead of Celtic clash
Mjallby won three league titles with Celtic during a six-year stay as a player before returning to Parkhead to assist Neil Lennon during his first term as boss.
Last updated 22nd Aug 2019
AIK Stockholm boss Rikard Norling decided against asking childhood friend Johan Mjallby to reveal Celtic's secrets - because he did not want to make him choose between his two footballing loves.
Mjallby won three league titles with Celtic during a six-year stay as a player before returning to Parkhead to assist Neil Lennon during his first term as boss.
But the Swede also has a soft spot for Norling's club having started his career with AIK, where he lifted two Swedish league crowns before making his move to Glasgow.
Norling - who grew up alongside Mjallby in the suburb of Jarfalla - is now tasked with masterminding Celtic's downfall as his side take on the Hoops for a place in the Europa League group stages.
But he thought better of asking his old friend to betray the Scottish champions.
"I know Johan Mjallby's history better than anybody,'' said Norling ahead of Thursday's first leg at Parkhead. We've been playing football together since we were three years old.
"We played in the same youth team, school team and we were by each others side until we graduated. I know him so well.
"I have such a respect for Johan and I know how much he cares for Celtic and AIK.
"He cares so much for both clubs and it would be disrespectful for our friendship to go too deep. I would then be asking him to do something that a friend just doesn't do.
"Johan loves both clubs in equal measure - I know he does."
Norling has tasted success against Scottish opposition before having led former club Malmo to victories over both Rangers and Hibernian in European action.
Lennon will hope his side do not become Norling's third victim after being dumped out of the Champions League by Cluj last week.
But Norling refused to enter into the mind games as he admitted his has sympathy for his opposite number.
He said: "I expect Celtic to try and do their best. Are Celtic under pressure? It isn't my job to go into how Celtic are feeling.
"I know myself we are a big club and if we lose a few games then questions will be asked if I am under pressure. So I recognise the situation and if other managers try to say I am under pressure then I ignore it."
Former Birmingham and Sunderland midfielder Sebastian Larsson will be the main threat to Celtic with his set-piece deliveries.
And he insists there will be no hard feelings if he puts the ball past his former Black Cats team-mate Craig Gordon.
The 34-year-old Sweden international said: "I played with Craig for a short spell. He obviously had his injury problems when I moved to Sunderland.
"He was just coming back so we only played a couple of games together on the pitch.
"It's really impressive to see the way he's come back and played numerous games with everything looking good. So I'm pleased for him.
"Listen it doesn't matter if it was my best friend in goal for Celtic I'd be happy to score anyway. Once you step over that white line you forget about it."