Denmark’s Lossl is Terriers’ gain – thanks to Schmeichel

IF Huddersfield goalkeeper Jonas Lossl becomes the latest victim of Manchester City’s fearsome attack this afternoon, he can blame it on good mate and former City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who advised him to come to the Premier League.

Lossl first met Schmeichel in 2008 when Danish club FC Midtjylland played City in the Europa League, four days before the Abu Dhabi takeover.

It was Ched Evans and Jo rather than Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus up front for City that night and Lossl watched from the stands as Midtjylland lost on penalties, before being introduced to the visitors’ substitute goalkeeper and fellow Dane.

The pair have gone on to become close friends and will be in Denmark’s squad together at the World Cup next summer.

When Lossl got the chance to join the Premier League newcomers on loan from Mainz, he called Leicester’s No1 and was told to go for it.

‘Kasper said, “Come here, it’s fantastic”. He said it’s special and everything has been like he said. It really fits me in training and matches,’ said Lossl. ‘In Germany, the focus is big on goalkeepers playing with their feet and it’s important to how we want to play at Huddersfield as well.

‘It is a bigger risk because the players are quicker and the tempo of matches is higher but I need to manage that risk.’

Lossl and Huddersfield have exceeded expectations given they have the smallest budget in the division. They sit mid-table and the 28-year-old has kept five clean sheets.

Lossl knows the biggest test is yet to come with City having scored 40 goals in 12 league games so far.

‘City are probably one of the best teams in Europe. I played against Bayern Munich last year but City are better,’ he said. ‘We beat United though, so we know we can do it if we stick together.’