– You are “shocked” to hear something like this. Sander Berge tells news that former teammate and close friend George Baldock (31) was found dead in his home in Greece on Wednesday evening. The cause of death has not yet been confirmed. – Stood very close to me Berge came to Sheffield United in 2020 and was a team-mate with Baldock for three years. – He was a good friend who was very close to me, someone I have spent a lot of time with and who has helped shape me and contributed to my well-being abroad, someone who has followed my journey and knows my family and friends well, says Berge to news. – You are very affected, and for me today it was about going out and representing what he stood for and the will and strength he had in him, he adds. DEAD: George Baldock was found dead at home in Greece this week. Photo: Joao Matos / AP Asked for mourning bands Berge told news that Baldock’s passing was the reason why both teams played with mourning bands at Ullevaal. – I was the one who asked for it last night, when I got the news. I asked our team leader about it and he took it up. Then I know that there are two in Slovenia who played with him in Panathinaikos, and then it was decided that everyone should play with it, says Berge. National team manager Ståle Solbakken is full of praise for Sander Berge after the Slovenia match. – He is becoming the player I thought he would become. After all, he wasn’t with me for the first couple of years and has had some nasty, long injuries. He has now joined a club, although he has only played one game from the start for Fulham, I think he has joined a team that will not be fighting to avoid relegation. So I think he can get some peace around him and can develop. I think I see it, says Solbakken to news. – What do you think of him delivering that match after the news he got? – I had a good talk with Sander at 12 o’clock. After all, he had received the message some time ago, and he seemed composed. It’s clear that it affects one, and they were closer than I suspected. So it was clear that it was a heavy blow, but he assured me that the best thing he could do was to play football, to take his mind off it a bit, says Solbakken. – He had no doubt that he wanted to play the match? – Not at all. GOOD HUGS: Sander Berge and Erling Braut Haaland have both had different feelings to deal with this week. Photo: JON OLAV NESVOLD / BILDBYRÅN Haaland: – Says a little about the psyche Erling Braut Haaland is also impressed by Berge. The two are good mates off the pitch as well. – I think this is the best match I have seen Sander play. I feel, with what has happened in the last 24 hours for him personally, to lose a good friend suddenly, a friend who has meant a lot to him, that says something about his psyche. It’s just a matter of paying tribute to Sander today, says Haaland. Sander Berge himself is satisfied with what he delivered in Norway’s convincing 3-0 victory at Ullevaal on Thursday evening. He believes he is in a good place in his career now. – For me, it has been important to be able to play in one position for a long time. Six, which I’ve spent most of my career as, I’ve fallen back on that now in the last year at Burnley under Vincent Kompany. I have been allowed to grow on that in Fulham, after being a winger, inside runner, ten, six for many years. It is difficult to optimize and become the best version of yourself then, he says when asked by Nettavisen. – Demands more from me The Fulham player believes that being able to play in the same role over time will be a key point for him going forward. – Although I can be versatile and fill several roles, I believe that if you want to get the best out of me, it’s about getting continuity in a role. And I feel I’m growing with it. When you play your 49th international match, you know you’ve been here a long time. It requires more of me. Then I get a lot out of what I stand for as a footballer. Both as a leader in the team, but also with my qualities in that role, he believes. Norway now continues the national league with an away match against Austria on Sunday evening. Attempting an incredible death record 00:48 Incredible performance: Scored from kick-off in two matches in a row 01:03 Here’s the referee’s nose: – A bit of a circus today 00:38 Here Rosenborg celebrates the final ticket 01:07 Show more Published 11.10.2024, at 05.43
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Berge “shocked” by tragic death – hailed by Haaland – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
