PRE-MATCH INTERVIEW: Zetterstrom previews Preston clash

Goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström says Derby County have improved and grown into the 2025/26 season.

Derby picked up their first victory of the new Sky Bet Championship campaign with a 1-0 win at West Bromwich Albion last weekend and will be looking to build on that success when they host Preston North End on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

Goalkeeper Zetterström has recently surpassed his first year with the club, having joined from Swedish top-flight side Djurgårdens in August 2024.

RamsTV caught up with Zetterström ahead of Saturday's meeting with Preston on home turf to discuss his time with the club so far and the start to the new campaign.

On getting the first win under the belt against West Brom…

I think it had been coming. We've improved every single match we've played and have been unfortunate to not get that first win up until then. It's always a big relief to get the first win but also, as a team, get the first clean sheet as well.

We've been really working on our defensive shape and, like with every single bit of our game, it's been improving every single week.

We had a lot of new faces and new ideas that we needed to incorporate into our game. That takes time and now you really start to see the end result of it.

On his first year with the club…

It's been an amazing first year. I've loved every single minute. It was tough to adjust in the beginning but every single person in this building, in this city, has really helped to make me feel at home here. It's fantastic to be here.

The Championship is just more intense here than what I've experienced before. It's way more physical, and obviously you've got very experienced players, very talented players in the league. They're always going to make your job a bit more difficult. Those sort of things are just a natural step up that I've had to take.

On adapting as a squad…

With the new players comes new ways to play the game. I also think it's hard to compare the situation we were in last year when the gaffer came in and the situation we are in now. You can tackle matches in different types of ways.

There's been a slight difference in the way we train. Building a bit more from the back and pretty much using every single player in the team in the build-up. That means different changes for me as well. That's the way to improve, to face new tasks.

On looking forward to being back at Pride Park…

It feels like ages ago since we last played at home. Even though every single away game feels like being at home because of the massive noise they make and the amazing support, it's always something different to be down there at Pride Park in front of 30,000 fans. We are very much looking forward to it.