Norway’s national team defender played under Arne Slot’s management when they were together in the Dutch big club Feyenoord from 2021 to 2023. And Holmgren Pedersen quickly felt that the current Liverpool coach is not afraid to think outside the box. Slot wanted tough defenders. Therefore, he sent several of them, including the Norwegian national team player, to kickboxing training – a measure that lasted almost a year. – Yes, that’s right, says Holmgren Pedersen to news while he has to pull on the smiley face. TRENTE PEDERSEN: Liverpool’s successful coach Arne Slot. Photo: Molly Darlington / Reuters – Will say that it helped He emphasizes that he was not selected because Slot missed a toughness in him, but that it was only supposed to be a kind of extra help to take new steps. – I think we were three or four players he selected. It was really mostly for the mental, that the pain threshold should rise, since we are in quite a few duels. In addition, it was good training, so we only got in better shape. I would say that it helped, says Holmgren Pedersen. – What did you think when he came up with the proposal? – At first I thought like this… “Do I need to go to boxing training?” But then I also thought it sounded kind of cool. I haven’t tried a lot of martial arts and such before in my life, so it really just sounds like a bit of fun. I wanted to try, he says. LIKELY TO START: Marcus Holmgren Pedersen will probably regain the right-back spot from the start against Austria. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB – Went “crazy” in the head National team manager Ståle Solbakken smiles when he hears about Holmgren’s kickboxing moves. – I actually didn’t know that, says Solbakken to news. – What do you think about moves like that? – Both, actually. I can’t hope he practices it on the pitch. I have to think about that a bit, actually, says Solbakken. With the result in hand, current Torino player Holmgren Pedersen believes that the unusual move made him a better defender. – It actually helped that you became a little more “crazy” in your head! After being punched in the face for a year straight there, you somehow don’t get scared if the ball hits you in the face a bit, or if you get an elbow, or something. You kind of just go “all in”, he says. “I could beat you easily” National team colleague Kristian Thorstvedt, who recently played together with Holmgren Pedersen in Sassuolo, tells news that his mate constantly reminds him of his new skills from martial arts. – This is a typical football discussion inside the dressing room… “I could easily knock you out if you and I had a fight”. Then Marcus always comes up with a card: “I’ve been doing kickboxing”. It always comes up, Thorstvedt grins to news. – What do you think about such measures? – I think it might be nice to try other things. Now, I don’t remember what Marcus was like before he started kickboxing, so I don’t know if there has been a change there. But no, Marcus is tough, he. There might be something in it, says Thorstvedt. DISCUSSING: Kristian Thorstvedt reveals that kickboxing often becomes a topic in conversations with Holmgren Pedersen. Photo: BILDBYRÅN Norway meets Austria in a very important match in the National League on Sunday evening at 20.45. Holmgren will probably start Solbakken says that there are some uncertainties before the match. – There are a couple who will feel a little extra about their bodies (during training). When we get all those answers and get to discuss with those involved who will have an opinion about it, we get to go into the thinking box. It’s not like I’m unsure about three, four or five, but maybe a couple, says Solbakken when asked by news. He did not go into who it concerned. – We don’t throw away those cards now, says Solbakken. However, he reveals that it will probably be the same defensive solution as in the second half of the 3-0 victory against Slovenia, where Holmgren Pedersen played right-back and pushed Kristoffer Ajer into central defense together with Andreas Hanche Olsen. – There is a good opportunity for them to continue, says Solbakken. You can watch the match on TV 2 or listen to it on news Sport on the radio. Published 13.10.2024, at 11.39 Updated 13.10.2024, at 11.41
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