– He was surprised. That’s what national team manager Ståle Solbakken said when he announced the national team squad for the two international matches against Jordan and Georgia earlier in September, a squad that was without Mohamed Elyounoussi’s name. The fresh FC Copenhagen player has 52 international caps and has been a pillar for Norway in the past seven years, and Solbakken hinted that Elyounoussi took the news seriously. – I had a conversation with him yesterday (the day before the withdrawal), the same with Kristian Thorstvedt. I call those who have been with me for a long time, I like to look them in the eye and explain why. In short, we can say that Kristian was more united (in the wrecking) than Moi, said Solbakken. – Ståle called me news meets Elyounoussi in Copenhagen, where he has just been part of the stunning 3-2 winner in the rivalry match against Brøndby. For the first time, he comments on the national team’s cancellation. – As a football player, you sometimes get good messages, other times not so good. It wasn’t something I spent energy on. I just got here and was trying to get started here. Ståle called me before the withdrawal, there was no stress. We spoke out, says “Moi” to news. IMPORTANT PIECE: Mohamed Elyounoussi was a self-proclaimed player for a long time in Norway’s first team. Photo: Javad Parsa / NTB He does not want to reveal the content of the conversation with the national team manager. – Was it a disappointment to be wrecked? – Both yes and no. You always want to contribute, but right now it was very nice for me to be able to stay here. I used the national team week very well to get in better shape, it was a week I needed, so it was very nice. I also got to take the trip home and see my family, I hadn’t done that for a long time, it was very nice, he says. – Always fun when a new generation takes over Elyounoussi has occupied the left wing for a long time in the national team. That it was the fresh left winger Antonio Nusa who had his breakthrough in the two previous international matches, Moi is delighted. – I think it looked very good. Nusa in particular looked fresh, it was a lot of fun. It’s always fun when you see a new generation take over, and maybe it’s time for that, but it’s clear that it looks tough to go on (to the EC). Then we’ll see if there will be a playoff or not, he replies. Since his transfer to FC Copenhagen, the Norwegian has scored two goals and one assist in six games in the Superliga. He also has one goal in one game in the Champions League, a beautiful score that came against Galatasaray, Molde’s superiors, in the first group stage match. The FCK coach: – Slow start But it has taken time to find the flow in a new club, and Elyounoussi has not been at his best, says FC Copenhagen coach Jacob Neestrup to news. – He had a slow start, but now he is starting to show his incredibly high level. He is very, very important to us. After the national team break, he has played some really good matches, says Neestrup to news. Elyounoussi is also starting to feel more at home in the Danish capital. – Now the family has also just moved down, and we have finally moved into a house. Now the chapter in Copenhagen begins in full, I think I have spent 7-8 weeks in a hotel. It has taken a long time to get started. But now we can finally start, the family is here, we’ve got a place for the children in the nursery and we feel at home. It bodes well, he says. SCORE: Mohamed Elyounoussi just scored a beautiful goal away to Galatasaray. Photo: YASIN AKGUL / AFP He admits that the moving process has taken more energy than he had hoped. – You have moving goods and small children with you, there are certain criteria for where you want to live, we had to find a nursery, there are quite a few things that take time. But we also get help with this from people in the club here. It has taken a little longer than we hoped, but now we are finally there. Now we can finally relax, and I can focus even more on football, he says. – Just came from a beach holiday, the 29-year-old does not hide that he has a tight time to get his physique in place after a long summer and several weeks without a club since the contract with Southampton expired. – I came straight from a beach holiday and came here, where the boys had played three to four games, had a season build-up and were in good shape. I had a very intensive and short “pre season”, so it took time to get in shape, but now I feel much better. I integrate myself more and more into the team and get to know both the tactics and the fellow players, and then things start to flow. It has done that lately, he says. NORWEGIAN LINK: Birger Meling and Mohamed Elyounoussi form FCK’s left side, as they have done for many years in the national team. Photo: YASIN AKGUL / AFP Received Saudi offer The fact that he was without a contract meant that he quickly had many alternatives to choose from. Elyounoussi says that there are many criteria to be ticked off when choosing a new employer, but that the family should thrive is number one. – If I had only gone after the money, I would probably have another place. And sporty, another city. It was the whole package FCK brought (which decided), they were also out very early. The coach also had a lot to say, the conversation I had with him and the club was very good. And it’s a big club in Scandinavia, a good place to live with the family and we also play in the Champions League, he says. He says that the offers came from clubs in “all parts of the world”, including Saudi Arabia. – It is no secret that there is good money there. But as I said, one considers the whole, and therefore FCK was the best for me, he says. Molde must enter a “spider-infested” dressing room in the cup 01:10 Unstoppable Pellegrino 00:35 Insect “buzz” in Formula 1 00:46 See the highlights from Norway – Austria 01:08 Show more
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