“Perry” was fired by Lagerbäck six days before the Solbakken appointment – VG

– It was probably Friday ten days ago. I got the message from Lars, says Per Joar Hansen to VG.

The assistant national team says he received the message from his fellow coach six days before Ståle Solbakken was introduced as the new director of the national team.

At the same time, it reveals the meaning behind Lagerbäck’s cryptic press release, and that he received a surprising offer ahead of the World Cup in 2018.

It was TV 2 that brought up the case for the first time.

– What do you think of the fact that you received the message from Lars and not from NFF?

– You can argue if it is right or wrong. It’s okay. I can live with that. I went in with him and I went out with him, it says “Perry.”

– What do you think of the decision?

– You just have to respect that. Legally, there is nothing wrong. Lars had an arrangement where he wished he could have a mutual termination if he was not motivated or for other reasons. So it was also like that from the association. Then only the association has seized its opportunity.

– And sportingly speaking?

– You can discuss that top to bottom in mind. We have obtained the results that we have obtained. They remain forever and ever. We went from position 84 to 44 in the FIFA ranking. We moved up 40 spots and won Group C and moved up to Tier 2 in the Nations League, says “Perry” and continues:

– We had the opportunity to ascend again, but we did not make it. We underperformed against Serbia, which of course was the biggest game of the year. Of course, it is bitter that we managed to eliminate the advantage against Sweden and Spain in that classification.

Explain Lagerbäck’s cryptic message

“Perry” says he and Lagerbäck didn’t know they were done when the Swede was photographed on the way home from the previous national team meeting.

The coaching duo were not involved in the national emergency team, except that they contributed a preliminary analysis from Austria.

– You have to ask them about that. We can’t answer that, “Perry” answers questions about why they weren’t more involved.

– Do you think that the scandal of the selection and the leaks to the media have influenced the decision that has been taken?

– No, we felt like we were done. We have said what we think about leaks and conflicts. We finished that in November. That you crash into a performance group where everyone wants to win is completely normal, the most important thing is that you keep going. There were no “hard feelings” or anything like that, he says.

– What are you going to do now?

– Good question. It is so new that I have not had time to think until now what will happen. We have been in a process in which we wanted to finish it properly.

– It is a great opportunity to evaluate a little before thinking big thoughts. I haven’t gotten that far.

– What did Lagerbäck mean by the slightly cryptic phrase in the press release where he wrote “Finally, remember why you win football matches …..”?

– I know that very well. If you want to win soccer games, there are a number of important factors that must be taken into account. It’s about winning situations one on one. It’s about getting better organized as a team. It’s about executing the best and the smartest. It’s about keeping zero. It’s about having power of execution and being the best in offensive and defensive set pieces.

– It’s about courage and having a winning skull. And finally, it is important to think of a soccer game so that a player has the ball for 45-60 seconds. So it is important to know what you are contributing when you do not have the ball. This is what we have urged the players during the period that we have been.

– So it was a last message about everything you have defended in your period?

– Yes.

The former assistant to the national team praises Lagerbäck.

– Now is how it is. The world goes on, but on Lars’ side, I think we should be very happy that the years that he has done have passed. I have worked with most people and talked about football with those who can crawl and walk in Norwegian football for the last 30 years. I have been privileged to have worked with such a wonderfully trained professional and leader. I have taken it as a great privilege. There are many who should have been on that trip.

At the same time, you obviously have good stories in store.

– Three things remain: one of the first times we met, as always, a week before the match, we stayed at Thon Ullevaal. Then he went to the reception and asked if I had brought proof of the bus, if it was half price. His motive was that it should never cost the Norwegian Football Association more than necessary. He could have been picked up by limousine every time, but instead he saved a hundred kronor, says “Perry”.

– The second is that he has never broken a contract in his 44 years of life as a coach, says Hansen and also claims that Lars Lagerbäck had the opportunity to take over Australia before the World Cup in 2018.

– When they called, he thanked the investigation, but refused because he has never broken an agreement in his entire life. It also shows a bit in terms of his integrity, says “Perry.”

Ange Postecoglou resigned as coach of the Australian national team two weeks after the team qualified for the World Cup. In January 2018, Dutchman Bert van Marwijk assumed command.

– The last one was when they massacred us against Germany and we lost 6-0. Instead of going home after ten days of meeting, we had decided to go to Drammen and watch the U21 team. Then we rented a car, so there were two salespeople sitting there: a Norwegian and an Englishman. He sat down and argued with the Norwegian about how miserable Norway was. He regretted not having bet more on the match. The Norwegian tried to get him to stop, but couldn’t. Then I saw that Lars couldn’t recover, so he went away and said, ‘I’ve played England seven times. Never lost,’ laughs ‘Perry’.

– But is there no doubt that he had joined Russia?

– Then I probably would have joined, yes. It never got relevant so it never got concrete as you asked if it could have been interesting. It was never relevant, as it respected the contract.