Mikkel Damsgaard: Confidence is Key

"Measuring Every Aspect Of Modern Football"

Football is a game played by individuals, which inherently introduces the unpredictability and flaws that come with human behavior.

Confidence is the self-belief that comes from recognizing your own skills and talents. While it’s hard to measure, it plays a crucial role for any athlete aiming to perform at their best.

Mikkel Damsgaard acknowledges that he lacked confidence when he transferred to the club from Sampdoria in August 2022.

The midfielder had a standout performance for Denmark during Euro 2020, notably scoring a brilliant free-kick in the semi-finals against England, highlighting his potential as one of Europe’s most exciting young talents. However, he had to sit out six months of his last season in Serie A due to a knee surgery, which uncovered that he was dealing with a type of arthritis.

"Damsgaard starts off by saying that Thomas and Phil were fully aware of the details regarding his injury."

They had conducted their homework, chatted with my physical therapists, and were fully aware of my situation.

The club understood that I was far from being fit enough to compete in the Premier League, so they saw it as somewhat of an investment on their part.

"They understood that I had some catching up to do and plenty of work ahead of me. I felt the same way, but I believed this was the ideal environment for me to grow, gain some weight, and achieve my best physical condition."

Damsgaard played 29 times for the Bees in his first season in west London as he worked on improving his match fitness and strength to compete effectively in the Premier League.

Teaming up with fellow players Mathias Jensen and Christian Nørgaard, he delivered an outstanding performance that earned him the player of the match award in the Bees' thrilling 3-2 win against Fulham in March 2023.

Last season, Damsgaard made 25 appearances, but he was out of action for nearly four months due to knee surgery he had in September.

"It wasn’t a complete restart, because when I first got injured in Italy, I was feeling really low,” he explains.

My first injury was an illness that I still need to take medication for, and the second involved surgery due to swelling in my knee.

Sometimes after training, my knee would become really swollen, and I’d have trouble walking the next day.

I was making progress, but then I got hurt. It’s discouraging because you have to start all over again and regain what you lost.

"If you sense that you're not able to run as fast or you lack strength, it can be challenging to maintain your confidence since you're not performing the way you'd like."

The initial step is to be able to move freely; only then can you pursue the activities you envision.

"It wasn't always simple, but you need to persist."

Damsgaard's determination has finally yielded results.

He is presently experiencing his finest period while wearing the Brentford jersey, and he is excited to demonstrate to the Bees supporters what he can truly do.

The 24-year-old has played in seven consecutive Premier League matches, earning two player-of-the-match awards for his impressive performances against Southampton and Wolves.

Following the 3-1 win against the Saints, head coach Thomas Frank praised his team's pressing game as "exceptional." The hardworking Damsgaard played a crucial role throughout the match.

His interception of Taylor Harwood-Bellis led to Kevin Schade striking the crossbar, and Bryan Mbeumo was perfectly positioned to put his team ahead with a well-deserved goal.

Damsgaard was involved once more in Brentford's second goal, as he intercepted the ball from Jan Bednarek, creating an opportunity for Mathias Jensen to set up Mbeumo, who scored his second goal of the match.

Overall, the Danish player executed four successful tackles, a feat matched only by Will Smallbone, with three of those tackles occurring in the attacking half of the field.

Although Damsgaard is frequently positioned as a playmaker (he has noted that he enjoys playing as a number 10), this match showcased him as a dynamic, versatile midfielder who contributed in various ways.

"I've always been good at outsmarting my opponents by getting the ball away from them, but I've really focused on improving my physical skills. I've put in a lot of effort to achieve this," he explains.

"What I love most about playing is having possession of the ball and setting up opportunities. I really enjoy keeping the ball at my feet."

"However, in this league, we can't assume we'll always have possession of the ball. Therefore, it's crucial to possess strong skills when we're not in control of the ball."

“Practicing it more frequently here is really improving my skills.”

Damsgaard shone in Brentford's 5-3 victory against Wolves, helping the team secure 10 points from their first seven matches before the international break in October.

Nathan Collins scored the opening goal for Brentford with a precise header from a perfect cross delivered right from the byline. Shortly before half-time, Collins also sent in a corner that Ethan Pinnock headed past Sam Johnstone. The two connected once more during Brentford's 2-1 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

While the assists might be the most notable part of Damsgaard's performance against Wolves, a closer look at his statistics reveals just how impactful he was in terms of creativity.

In Matchweek 7 of the Premier League, only Bukayo Saka from Arsenal, with 7 key passes, provided more than Damsgaard, who contributed 6. The Danish player also played two precise through balls during the match.

The ex-Sampdoria winger had a remarkable performance, showcasing his skill to move to the flanks and deliver quality plays, as demonstrated by his five precise crosses.

“[Damsgaard] was effectively controlling the game in several aspects,” Frank said with satisfaction during his post-game press conference.

"I’m really thrilled to notice some encouraging signs. He performed exceptionally well in the Euros in 2021, and now he's returned to a form that clearly shows there’s considerable potential in him."

"He’s demonstrating a bit more aggression and determination during training."

"Last year, he faced a tough season due to injuries. When he finally joined the team, he was clearly having a hard time, which prevented him from getting consistent playing time."

"I believe he is starting to showcase his true potential, but we always need more from him. It's important that he maintains consistent performance."

"There's no question about it; he has confidence in himself, earns our trust, and is delivering results."

Damsgaard, looking back on his recent performances, states: “It's obvious to tell if a player is performing with confidence or lacking it.”

"It's all about the little details: a midfielder gets a pass, and rather than just passing it back, he swiftly pivots and advances the ball."

After being sidelined by a lengthy injury, I spent a lot of time reflecting on my past errors.

"You aim to return as your best self, but you soon find yourself making more errors than usual, which starts to feel really heavy on your mind."

When you’re feeling very confident, you tend to rely on your instincts rather than overthinking things. You just go for what feels right.

"When you act in a way that feels correct, you can sense that your chances of success are higher."

"You take the lead in your play. Being on the field feels effortless; you’ve adapted to the pace of the game, which is crucial in the Premier League due to its intensity."

Damsgaard says, "I can continue to grow my confidence, but I'm feeling really positive at the moment."

There are times when I need to be bolder around the goal area, generating more opportunities and perhaps being a little more self-centered when it comes to taking a shot or seeking a pass that could lead to a goal.

"But how can you stay confident? That's a tough question."

"You’re a skilled player, and you've come this far due to your talent. Now, it’s important to play with confidence and not get too caught up in overanalyzing your moves."

"You've earned your place here, so always remember that."

After scoring his first goal for the Bees in a 3-1 win against Leyton Orient in the Carabao Cup last month, Damsgaard's ambitions for the coming months are evident.

"Scoring and setting up plays," he states confidently.

"I'm performing well in other areas of the game, recovering possession and such, but I really want to focus on improving my goal-scoring and assisting skills."

"I want to be more composed and focused during crucial moments."