– I thought perhaps the goal wouldn’t do much for my confidence, because it wasn’t the best opponent in the world. But I notice that the shoulders are maybe a little more relaxed now. That’s what Jørgen Strand Larsen says to news about what was his very first goal for the A national team. In his seventh appearance with the flag on his chest, the player from Halden delivered a brilliant match against Jordan on Thursday evening, scored one goal, had two assists and was named the best on the pitch on news’s player exchange. – I received an SMS from Rafa In Spain, Rafael Benítez was obviously sitting and watching. The high-profile coach is now Strand Larsen’s boss at Celta Vigo and quickly made noise after Norway’s 6-0 victory against Jordan. – I received an SMS from Rafa. It’s a bit of fun. It’s my trainer, but he’s relatively big. I’m getting used to him being my coach now, but there are times when I think it’s big, yes, says the striker and smiles. RECOGNIZED: Rafael Benitez is a well-known face in the world of football. Now he works to refine the potential of Jørgen Strand Larsen. Photo: MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP The Norway striker says that the former Liverpool manager is very good at giving praise to his players. – I really appreciate that. He is a coach who cares a lot. He is concerned that we are doing well too. I think he just wanted to check that everything was OK, he says. – Appreciate what Strand Larsen reveals at the same time what was in the text message from the star coach. – He wrote: “Congratulations. I hope everything is well” and that we will see each other on Thursday. Then there wasn’t much to answer that. All I had to do was say thank you and see you later. I just appreciate that he cares and follows along, he says. Strand Larsen is surprised by how calm Benítez is. Although he is described as a perfectionist, he does not get upset if the team or individual players do not do as planned. – He’s not crazy if things don’t go as he wants. He takes it easy and tries to teach us the right way. That’s when I learn best too. I don’t want a coach who just screams at me, he says. SCORET: Jørgen Strand Larsen scored a beautiful goal against Jordan. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB – Learned a lot already It’s not just talk and words of praise Strand Larsen gets from the Celta coach. He has already developed his game in several areas under the guidance of the 63-year-old. He is so big and strong that he is concretely working on becoming better at turning the wrong way. – In the last month, Rafa has been very concerned about this, and he says that “simple and few touches do the trick”. I have tried to follow it. In addition, Benitez offers other little advice that Strand Larsen swallows raw. – He has asked me to shoot low. I had a goal in La Liga last time where I shot low, I don’t have to go for the angle every time, it’s a tricky thing. A simple thing, but a nice thing, and I feel I’ve learned a lot from him already, he says. – Jørgen is in exactly the right place. National team assistant Brede Hangeland follows the players closely even outside of meetings. He thinks Strand Larsen goes to a very good school under Benítez at Celta Vigo. – It is a privilege to have such a competent coach. I think Jørgen is in exactly the right place in his career. With the attitude he has, he will only get better and better, says Hangeland to news. – He has many of the same qualities as Erling Braut Haaland, is both big, strong, fast and with good finishes. Does he have the potential to approach Erling eventually? – It must be done. Erling is at a high level, which everyone agrees on. Jørgen takes big steps and is an incredibly good guy. Willing to learn. Although he has not played many A national matches, he is actually in many ways a leader in the group here, by virtue of the power of example. He is exactly where he should be in development, says Hangeland. LA LIGA: Jørgen Strand Larsen has a fulfilling everyday life in Spain. Here in a duel with Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni. Photo: Lalo R. Villar / AP Warning But sometimes there can also be too much of a good thing, reveals the Norway assistant. – As I tell him a lot, that he is so loyal. It’s 100 percent in everything he does. He almost has to practice having a greater difference between the maximum actions and what is slightly lower. He plays with a heart rate of 190 throughout. It will be difficult, but rather that than him not doing the job. He is a top guy, good player and still young. He can take big steps and become even much better, says Hangeland. On Tuesday, Strand Larsen can get his eighth international match when Georgia visits Ullevaal. The right-handed striker is probably most relevant as a winger now that Haaland is likely to start, but he cares little about that. – I am ready to play anywhere, and then it is a bit up to Ståle where he intends to have me. Whether it’s from the start or from the substitutes’ bench, says Strand Larsen. The match against Georgia kicks off at 8.45pm on Tuesday evening and is already sold out.
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Received SMS from star coach after Norway scoring – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
