INTERVIEW: Langås Previews Blades Clash and Reflects on ‘Special Season’ of Progress

Sondre Langås reflects on the ‘special’ progress Derby County have made to be in contention for a play-off position going into the final day of the Sky Bet Championship season.

Langås maintains he isn’t surprised by the turnaround in the Rams’ fortunes this season - the Norwegian defender joined Derby in January 2025, and after helping the Rams retain Championship status last season, is looking to end his first full season on a high, with the chance to clinch the final play-off place at stake – providing there are favourable results elsewhere.

Langås caught up with RamsTV ahead of Saturday’s Pride Park bout.

On The Prospect of Facing the Blades

We're really looking forward to the game. I think we're just going to go out there and enjoy it and feel really confident that it's going to be a good game from our side.

Maybe it’s one of the last games in the season - but hopefully not. I mean, we'll just have to wait and see after the game.

On the Turnaround in the Squad Since His Arrival in England

I'm not surprised. I don't know if you call it a quick turnaround or whatever, but I think you could feel it when the gaffer came and how the togetherness within the team, the club, and the fans and everyone - how tight we are together.

I feel that's a special thing that made us improve and push each other all the way. Now we sit here to fight for a play-off place just one year later. It's a good thing, but you want more, of course.

On Feeling Vindicated After Signing for the Club

It's a big difference. I was pretty sure when I came that we were going to stay up. After that, it's just been what was in my head before I came: That this is a massive club and we belong to be up there and at least fight for the play-offs this year, and hopefully we will see what happens. It's been a rollercoaster of a year, a year and a half for me.

On the Importance of His Return To First Team Action Against Norwich City Following Injury

It was very important for me to start playing football again because it had been almost six months without playing football with the team.

That’s the one thing you love most with everything about football, to play the games, and you just want to die for it.

So, for me, it was massive to just come on - it was a good thing that we won the game and got a boost. It was a relief to start playing and then I got lucky to get a call-up from the national team straight away. After that, I got injured again.

On His Personal Highlights from the Season

It's hard to get away from the five wins in a row - when we started that, it felt like the season was properly kicking off.

It’s hard to tell one specific game. Sheffield United away was a good game when Carlton scored his hat-trick. But moments with the team on and off the pitch, in a changing room and everything, there are a lot of good memories.

On His Goal Against QPR And Returning from Injury

I'm very pleased to be able to go and play without any pain - for me, it's been a rollercoaster of a year.

I’ve been really bursting to be back with the boys - they've been backing me all the way, so when I got the goal, I was just really relieved. I just wanted to give something back to the fans because you know how much they travel, so they deserved that.

On Whether the Players Will Be Keeping Up to Speed with the Other Results

I think it's different from player to player. For me, I could probably check in on the games, like at half-time or after half-time. I’d probably ask a fan to check! But you can’t do much except to play your game and do your best, and then take it to 90 minutes, hopefully, it will be something great.