Malmö FF won their first match under new coach Miguel Angel Ramirez 1–0 against Sparta Prag, with Emmanuel Ekong scoring the decisive goal. Defender Pontus Jansson described the coach's intense sideline behavior as psychopathic but impressive. Ramirez replied that it is his way of helping the players.
Malmö FF started the year with a victory in their first match under new coach Miguel Angel Ramirez. The opponent was Sparta Prag, and the game ended 1–0 after Emmanuel Ekong scored on a deep pass from Theodor Lundbergh after just 14 minutes. Ekong, who had a tough previous season, thrived in the new 4–4–2 formation alongside Erik Botheim. "Speed is my specialty," he said, describing how one forward bumps while the other runs deep.
After a missed chance shortly after the goal, Ekong was pleased with his more central role. "The goal is central on the pitch anyway. As long as I can be forward-facing and threaten, it's good for me," he noted. He also emphasized humility regarding the coaching change: "New coach, old coach – I have to perform well."
Ramirez's voice echoed across the pitch with loud instructions and great involvement. After the match, defender Pontus Jansson called him "a psychopath on the line" – but with a wink. "It's insane that he can keep it up. Impressive and it rubs off," Jansson said. Ramirez replied: "That's how I am, I don't know how to do it differently. Without intensity in today's football, you can't compete."
The victory wasn't enough for Ramirez; the starters trained in the gym afterward, while the substitutes ran an intense session with the coach himself. Days under his leadership are described as intense with little downtime.
