– I think it’s funny. It’s nice to be on Mourinho’s “insta”, says Solbakken to news. The Trønder has now seen the end of his first, half-season in a Roma uniform after the transfer from Bodø/Glimt in January. It has “turned”, as he himself says, and the fact shows 14 league games – half as substitutes. It was also an intrusion that should steal a little more attention than intended. IN ROME: Ola Solbakken. Photo: AP Would have done the same During the home match against Sampdoria in April, Roma were chasing the first score, and the Norwegian was to be thrown in ten minutes into the second half. But at the same time as Mourinho gave Solbakken the last tactical instructions on the sideline, Georginio Wijnaldum made it 1-0. Mourinho looked up, raised his arm and asked Solbakken to sit down again. “Sorry, Ola,” Mourinho wrote on Instagram, where he posted the clip that caught fire on social media. Photo: @josemourinho / Instagram Then and there, the Norwegian didn’t think anything of it. – I could do the same as a trainer myself. If I were to put in an offensive player, and we went up in the league, I would save him, me too, says the 24-year-old. According to Solbakken, there were three similar episodes during the spring season. Against Sampdoria, the push was brought in just over 20 minutes, and the Norwegian served Stephan El Shaarawy to make it 3-0 in overtime. Mourinho openly saw the humor in the situation, and he did not bring it up with Solbakken himself. – It was humour, yes. I don’t need a proper excuse for it, says Solbakken. Final row It became far more serious when Roma later lost to Sevilla in the Europa League final. Roma and José Mourinho’s behavior towards the referees, especially after matches, made headlines around the world. AMPERT: It was a hot day for José Mourinho. Photo: Reuters National team manager Ståle Solbakken is clear that you as a profile should behave and be a role model. – But these are emotions, after all. It’s an example of someone going too far, I’ve done that myself in my time, too. So it’s about controlling it. But at the same time, it must not be the case that those who are worst off benefit from it, because then it will pay off, says the national team manager. READY TO MATCH SOON: Here, Ståle Solbakken follows Ola Solbakken and Mats Møller Dæhli during a training session at Ullevaal. Photo: BILDBYRÅN He points out that bad behavior can affect the recruitment of judges and the desire to be a judge. When it comes to Rome during the final, the national team manager believes that it seemed more staged than ruled by emotions. He seems worse. – I see it more as planned, as something you could perhaps expect in advance. That it’s a bit more like: “Now I go forward, and then you sit, and then everyone goes forward”, describes the Norwegian boss. Ola Solbakken, who was not part of the Europa League squad, followed the commotion from a distance. He thinks it’s about a winning instinct that took over. – It’s a good mix of tactics and emotion. We have to show the referee that it means a lot to us, and put some pressure on him, too. He must perform as well as everyone else. But there is probably just as much the other, too, says Solbakken, who does not wish to comment so much on the final. Now two important international matches against Scotland (Saturday) and Cyprus (Tuesday) await before the eyes are soon turned to a new, full season. Solbakken believes that this can make a big difference compared to the intake in January. – I need the pre-season here, not coming from a five-week holiday where I was in Mexico for four of them. It is not optimal to come to a new club from that. It’s not the easiest, anyway. So having a good pre-season this year can help a little, says Solbakken.
ttn-69