Lasse Richt: “Doesn’t read Kalle Anka”

Richt responds to the accusations

Of: Johan Flinck

Published: September 22, 2020 kl. 15.58
Updated: September 22, 2020 kl. 16.30

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was singled out as a bully on the national team.

A behavior that would have been supported by the then coach of the national team Lasse Richt.

But now he’s hitting Richt back.

– I have a different opinion, he tells Sportbladet.

Olof Lundh describes in his new book “The National Team According to Lundh” how Zlatan Ibrahimovic ruled and placed himself in the national team with harsh methods especially during Erik Hamrén’s time as captain of the national team.

A veteran national team leader goes even further at Sportbladet and accuses Ibrahimovic of being an adult bully on the national team who perhaps should have reported his harassment to the police.

In both Lundh’s book and Sportbladet’s article, then-national team coach Lasse Richt, who left after the 2018 World Cup, receives harsh criticism for joining Ibrahimovic’s ligaments and Sportbladet’s source even claims that Zlatan’s behavior would have been supported by Richt.

“It slips and breaks and exaggerates”

When Sportbladet catches up with him, he first wants to present something about Lundh’s book.

– I have not read it but on the other hand I do not read Kalle Anka either. So I don’t think I’m reading this book. And like everything he (Lundh) writes, he slips and splices, and he exaggerates. But it’s probably because you want clicks and make money.

In that case, you probably think the same of me, as I have spoken to a person from the governing body of the national team during this time who comes up with the same accusations.

– So what Lewicki and Elm (who denied / toned down the information in Lundh’s book) say no longer applies?

Already.

– Exactly!

But as with Lundh, this source requires anonymity, which of course is a weakness in the argument.

– Yes, very weak, says Richt.

Don’t think Zlatan went too far

Does this person mean that you supported Zlatan’s behavior?

– Uh! What happens in a changing room stays in a changing room. And the ones who didn’t live in a locker room, which you probably didn’t do in the same way that I did, so it can be adrenaline at times and it comes from not just one but many different people. People who come from outside do not understand it. But what I will never comment on is what happens or is said in a locker room. It stays with those who are there.

Since Richt has not read the Sportbladet article, we read it to him.

Did they point out that you supported this?

– You must represent it. I have a completely different opinion.

Didn’t you feel that Zlatan went too far? And now I don’t think of individual insults in a locker room.

– No I dont think so.

According to the Sportbladet informant, Richt is said to have left the locker room with the words “damn, I don’t intend to be a part of this” when Zlatan scolded Lewicki harshly after the Euro 2016 premiere.

What do you say about that?

– I say it’s not true. I always go in and out of a locker room after a game because I have so many different tasks at the time. So no, I didn’t do this.

“You can come out of your closet”

Is there, as our source says, a hierarchy in the union that makes you not dare to tell it?

– I hope not. But I can’t answer that. I have not experienced it. It must represent whoever says it. That person can come out of their closet and talk about it. Then there will be another credibility. Then you can talk to the person and not through the media.

– This person talks about this anonymously and is fully aware that it will be something important. I do not like that.

It’s been a couple of years since you quit and retired, how does it feel to get this thrown at you?

– Nothing special, I must say. Of course it affects you. Today I live quite anonymously and I want it that way. I also tried to be anonymous when I was working.

Why do you think only anonymous sources say those things?

– I don’t know why they want to be anonymous. You can ask them about that. You say it is a hierarchical order that prevents them from daring. But I don’t think we have that climate. I stayed in charge for 20 years. It would be strange if he had experienced it. So you wouldn’t have been there for 20 years.

Don’t you recognize what this person is saying?

– No, I don’t recognize what this person says.

Both Kim Källström and Albin Ekdal have discussed in their summer talks in P1 about Zlatan’s power in the national team.

Did Zlatan have too much power in the selection?

– No I dont think so. He was the captain of the team and then you have a bigger platform to stand on. It was the same when Henke, Olof, Fredrik or Patrik were team captains. They get a position that makes them spokespersons.

Do you have any contact with Zlatan today?

– Slightly. Not much, Richt says.

Published: September 22, 2020 kl. 15.58

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