– There will be a bit too much clowning. That is the harsh verdict from the hockey expert in SVT, Håkan Loob, after seeing the very special TV appearance from Frölunda coach Rönnberg this week. Because during a half-time interview, he suddenly appeared in the TV frame with silver tape over his mouth. Silver tape is known to fix most things, but this time the bit of tape made the pain worse. At least that’s what SVT expert Loob thinks, who didn’t appreciate the stunt. – I’m actually a bit annoyed. This time at Roger Rönnberg. It has gone a little too far. The Swedish Hockey League (SHL) is an incredibly serious league. These things Roger delivers do not speak for maintaining seriousness. You are welcome to entertain, but I think Roger has taken this far too far. You must have more respect for the league, says Loob in the SVT studio. Photo: FREDRIK KARLSSON / BILDBYRÅN Rönnberg’s former Norwegian student, Mats Rosseli Olsen, is more supportive of Loob’s attitude. – I thought it was a bit funny. It is a funny way of saying that he is not allowed to comment on the judges, says Olsen to news. He has a long career in Swedish ice hockey, with 13 seasons and 736 games for Frölunda. Thus, he naturally knows the Swedish coach well. – He has a competitive instinct and wants to win everything. That’s why the interview often turns out like that, because he’s so into the game. He is a good leader and good at getting the players to do what he wants. It has proven to give good results, says Olsen. DEFENDING THE OLD MANAGER: Mats Rosseli Olsen thinks there should be a ceiling for Roger Rönnberg’s latest stunt. Photo: MATHIAS BERGELD / BILDBYRÅN – It’s nonsense Rönnberg has in several interviews recently “joked it”, write SVT. The latest stunt, which has made headlines in, among others, Expressen, SVT and TV4, is the last in a row for the controversial coach. – I, who know him, know that he has a twinkle in his eye. He has had to endure a lot of criticism from those who interviewed him over the years. I think there must be room for that type of behaviour, says the Norwegian ice hockey profile, which finished in Frölunda this summer. Photo: JONAS LJUNGDAHL / BILDBYRÅN On several occasions, Rönnberg has criticized referees after questionable match situations. At the same time, there is a discussion in Hockey Sweden about how much coaches and players should criticize and focus on the efforts of the referees. Judges have also criticized Roger Rönnberg for his strong backlash, including after a match in 2023 where Rönnberg himself was sent off. – I think the judges in Sweden are stupid. I don’t think he complains too much, and they also have to tolerate criticism when they do badly, Olsen believes. The latest silver tape stunt also happened after criticism of referees, something that has not gone down well with either experts or former players who have been in Rönnberg’s stable. – I think it’s nonsense, says Robin Figren in Göteborg Posten’s hockey podcast Klubbland. Now the SVT expert believes that a line has been crossed by the coach. – There will be a bit too much clowning. You have to stick to the facts. Then you can at least be entertaining in your answers, but it must not go too far. It is one of the best series in the world. We have to be a little more serious, says Loob. No regrets After the special session, SVT gave Rönnberg the chance to respond to the criticism. He explains the taping over the mouth in this way: – I understand if someone thinks it’s stupid. This is not how one should behave as a coach. You have to be sour and angry and scold your players, says Rönnberg with a sarcastic undertone to the Swedish broadcaster. – Håkan Loob doesn’t think it belongs in the SHL? – No, maybe it isn’t. He is a legend, so he knows it, replies Rönnberg. He was later asked if he regretted the stunt. The answer from the Frölunda coach was then resoundingly clear. – No, after I turned 50 I don’t care what other people think. I don’t take it too seriously. I can understand that there is a limit where things cannot become stupid. If you have been standing here for 20 years and doing these interviews, I will lose myself anyway. Then I can imagine that it’s fun that someone does something different, says Rönnberg. Published 03.11.2024, at 08.33
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