– For me, this victory here means nothing. The most important thing is that the boys got, after having so many posts over a long period of time, a good win against a team that had a fantastic EC and is a really good team. I am the least important thing here. This is what national team manager Ståle Solbakken told news after Norway won what many labeled as a fateful match for his “project”. The pressure had increased considerably before the match: Norway went on a rampage and played 0-0 away to Kazakhstan in the opening match of the Nations League. Norway had only one win in the last six games. Since the EC qualifiers started in March 2023, Norway had only beaten teams such as Cyprus, Georgia, Jordan, the Faroe Islands and Kosovo. In other words: It was high time for a convincing victory for a hard-pressed national team manager. But Norway did the job, Solbakken succeeded with most of the moves he took and for the first time in over two years Norway won against a better ranked opponent. – Only nonsense and mistakes Solbakken emphasizes that he has no problems with dissatisfaction arising around the national team. – And I have no problems with you asking critical questions, but it’s not like I go along and accept everything. There is a lot that is nonsense, and then there is a lot that is constructive, he says to news. – What is nonsense? – Some of the purely football-related questions are just nonsense and mistakes. I can’t have all the discussions with you, but I also can’t sit here and just accept. Then there’s no point in me being here either. – What is wrong? Which premises or questions do you react to? – Much of the football debate is only based on individual results, such as the Slovakia match in March (1-1), where we receive harsh criticism. We could lead 5-0, and then we can be criticized for not scoring goals, but then there is the one late goal… Solbakken begins without being specific. He takes a short art break before continuing: – It’s not like I’m sitting here as a winner now at all. We have played two competitive games and would have liked to have six points and not four. I don’t say “what did I say”, at all. Nothing. We played a solid game today, and then we will have some challenges in the next meeting if, for example, Martin (Ødegaard) is out. That’s football, he adds. UNDERSTANDING THE NOISE: Ståle Solbakken understands that there has been a lot of dissatisfaction in recent days. Photo: Vegard Grøtt / BILDBYRÅN – I don’t think I’ve been fully praised When asked how Solbakken has experienced the dissatisfaction towards him in recent days, he replies: – I’m not on social media, but I don’t think I’ve been fully praised there rather. But that is “the name of the game”, I have the job I have, and then I have to stick to it. What is important to me is that we are internally a united unit where everyone has faith in the project. As long as I feel that the player group believes in the project to that extent, that the support apparatus and the entire sulamite are behind it, then it is easy to work, he replies. See the highlights from the Norway victory here: – You say both here and on TV after the match that you have felt calm inside, that the playing group has been completely calm. What are you basing that on? – We have it much higher under the roof. We have created a new management group after Stefan Strandberg had to give up. Erling (Haaland) and Martin (Ødegaard) have been supported by four or five more players, we have regular meetings and a sports psychologist who works hard. We have an open dialogue about small details, says Solbakken initially to news. – No, you notice that quickly, you notice that in your workplace too. If Arne Scheie shakes his head at you on the next desk, you don’t go home with a good feeling, he adds. HAPPY: Ståle Solbakken is relieved that the players had a good experience again. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB – You say it’s high under the roof, has it been hot since the Kazakhstan match? – No. It wasn’t a super performance, but it wasn’t a bad performance either. We cannot lose our heads. But at the same time, if I had been a supporter of Norway and we had played 0-0 against Kazakhstan, and you are sitting at four o’clock on a Friday and are going out to celebrate that Norway has won, then it is clear that I understand the disappointment, he says. Løkberg: – A perfect evening news expert Kristoffer Løkberg believes the victory buys both Solbakken and the NFF time and peace. He praises the national team manager for the way he led Norway to victory against Austria. – There were very good moves by Solbakken and the coaching team during the break with the two substitutions, which meant that Norway gained more control over it. It was more solid and steady. Antonio Nusa came in and was a constant threat, says Løkberg. – So I think the entire Norwegian team needed to suffer and resist in the last few seconds. All in all, it was a perfect evening for the Norwegian team, and a long-awaited boost for everyone who likes Norwegian football, says Løkberg. POSITIVE: Felix Horn Myhre hopes the Austria victory gives peace of mind. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB Horn Myhre: – It was a little nicer now Goalscorer Felix Horn Myhre is a relieved man after the victory. When asked what Solbakken said in the dressing room after the match, he replies: – It was a bit nicer now than last time. It was positive, now I hope we can build some self-confidence and create some calm heading into the next matches. It would be nice, says the Brann player to news. Alexander Sørloth, who played a good match at Ullevaal on Monday evening, is positive after the start of the National League. – Right now I am sitting with a very, very good feeling. We are leading the group (equal on points with Slovenia, editor’s note) and if we continue in this way we will probably win the group as well. Of course we should have beaten Kazakhstan, but that is nothing to think about when we beat Austria. Then we should be satisfied, says Sørloth to news. – It means everything Kristoffer Løkberg has no doubts about the significance of this victory for “project Solbakken”. – That means everything. It is the confirmation you need that you have something to offer against the supposedly better opponents. In the qualification next year, you will have to take a scalp to be able to get to the WC. You have to catch up with those who are initially a little bigger and a little stronger. Especially at Ullevaal. Now we got the win we needed. I think the boys on the team also got the confirmation they needed that we can also succeed when it matters most, says Løkberg. Published 10.09.2024, at 12.35 p.m
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