Johanna Rytting Kaneryd will be outnumbered on Sunday when Chelsea meets Manchester United in the Women’s League Cup final. As one half of Chelsea’s Swedish contingent alongside Nathalie Björn, Rytting Kaneryd is fully aware of the threat her team are up against with United’s squad containing five of her national teammates.
Chelsea star Johanna Rytting Kaneryd set to face FIVE Sweden team-mates in Women's League Cup final as Blues winger insists Man United 'best friend' will become enemy https://t.co/A2JPhC3sec
— Daily Mail Sport (@MailSport) March 12, 2026
Fridolina Rolfo, Julia Zigiotti Olme, Anna Sandberg, Hanna Lundkvist, and Ellen Wangerheim are all players Rytting Kaneryd knows well. Zigiotti Olme, United’s dominant midfielder, brought in from Bayern Munich last summer, is her closest friend.
Hell No When Asked About Flying Into Tackles
Does that mean she will be more reluctant to fly into tackles? “Hell no. When you’re in your zone and you’re in the game,you don’t really think. Even if it’s one of my best friends, she’s not going to be my best friend when we play against each other,” the winger tells Daily Mail Sport.
✍️Exclusive interview with Johanna Rytting Kaneryd…
🇸🇪 Looking forward to facing FIVE Swedish team-mates at United, incl best friend Julia Zigiotti
❌ Not given up on title race yet
😕 Frustrating time on sidelineshttps://t.co/OOEg9OoZYu
— Tara Anson-Walsh (@taraansonwalsh) March 12, 2026
She added, “Obviously she knows how I play, and I know how she plays, so I’m just going to have to be extra on it and try to do everything I can to not be an easy player to face.”
More Important Than Ever This Season
Given the need for momentum heading into the final stretch of the season, the League Cup is being treated with the utmost respect by the holders. “It’s more important than ever. We still have four trophies to compete for, but as it looks now, these three trophies are probably the closest ones, so it’s a very important cup to win,” Rytting Kaneryd said.
She continued, “We always want to win everything we compete in, so especially now with everything that’s been happening lately, this will be a great motivation for all of us.”
Also read: Chelsea and Lionesses Star Lauren James Reveals Why She’s Often ‘Misunderstood’