[ad_1]
KICKBACK: Alexander Sørloth counterattacks against national team coach Lars Lagerbäck. Photo: Bjørn S. Delebekk / VG
Alexander Sørloth (24) fights back against national team coach Lars Lagerbäck (72).
– I’ve never said that anyone on the coaching staff is incompetent. Never. After we were asked to give feedback from the players, I said that I was very critical of the way we were preparing for the game against Serbia. Also the tactical evaluations that were made along the way, Alexander Sørloth tells NTB.
As VG was able to reveal earlier this week, national team coach Lars Lagerbäck and Leipzig striker Sørloth discussed what would be a group meeting with the various parts of the team after the playoff loss to Serbia.
On Thursday morning, the director of the national team spoke for the first time via a press release from the Norwegian Football Association.
– I tolerate well that there are disagreements on football issues. However, Alexander made several accusations that did not refer to the way we play football, but which went on to say that Per Joar Hansen and I were incompetent as coaches both in terms of management and football, Lagerbäck said in the press release.
And on Thursday night, Sørloth comments on the case for the first time, through his agent Morten Wivestad for NTB.
– Everything I said in the meetings with the coaching staff was about professional aspects of football with the wish that the team is even better prepared for the games. And above all this.
Here is VG’s timeline of what should have happened:
VG has tried to contact assistant Per Joar Hansen and media manager Svein Graff on Thursday night, but to no avail.
Sørloth continues his explanation to NTB as follows:
– I have always been a supporter of honest, direct and clear people. This time it became too light. So clear that they violate their own principles of not taking internal disagreements with the press. Suddenly, it was okay to write a press release about what people say and do in closed meetings. So you feel lonely when you really want to be on a team.
– Actually, I’m done with this case. We had “shook hands” and looked into each other’s eyes. And that’s how I like it. There must be room for criticism and disappointment in a team. In the same way there must be room for rejoicing and boasting. We often wear big shoes, then we have to endure that we sometimes step on our toes. The NFF press release states that it did not want to comment further.
– Is not true. It would take it directly to the interested parties. When I understood that there would be an NFF press release about what happened at an internal player meeting, I expressed a desire to see it before it was published. So I could add something. They never sent it to me.
He adds that he has the best job in the world and that he will continue to give everything for Norway.
