Håkan Sjöstrand does not talk about Zlatan’s flirtation with the national team

From: Michael Wagner

Published: November 25, 2020 kl. 23.25

Both Janne Andersson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic himself open for a comeback in the national team for the Milan striker.

The reaction in the Swedish Football Association?

– I do not speculate on those issues, says Secretary General Håkan Sjöstrand.

Sportbladet’s interview in Guldbollen and Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s message that he longs for the national team have made headlines.

Federation Captain Janne Andersson responded early Wednesday:

– It seems natural that we have some kind of contact in the future to discuss the matter further.

But that’s pretty much all SvFF wants to say on the specific topic.

Same answer

General Secretary Håkan Sjöstrand, who was in Milan on Monday, responds to questions in a similarly polite but firm manner.

What is your reaction to Zlatan opening to play for the national team again?

– It is above all that it is worth getting the Ballon d’Or that I have reflected on because I am also part of the jury. It’s worth the award considering what you’ve accomplished in the past year. It is a great achievement. This is where I have had my thoughts, Sjöstrand tells Sportbladet.

What does it mean for Swedish football to play for the national team again?

– I don’t speculate on those issues that way.

Don’t you have feelings about it?

– When it comes to our roster and team selections, we have a very clear and clear division of roles. Our excellent league captain, Janne Andersson, always runs it and there are questions for him to handle and comment on, says the association’s CEO.

Photo: JOEL MARKLUND / BILDBYRÅN

Håkan Sjöstrand.

Håkan Sjöstrand was in Milan on Monday and handed the Ballon d’Or to Zlatan, helped us get our interview at Sportbladet and helped Ibrahimovic be in the pre-recorded TV4 feature.

Wasn’t it a good time for you to have a conversation with Zlatan about what he talked about in the interview, regarding the selection?

– All questions about the team and team selections are the responsibility of Janne, says Sjöstrand.

Book reproduces irritation

– But it is clear that we talk to each other when we meet. As a general rule, what I talk to the players, leaders or employees remains between us. But I was very proud and happy to win the Ballon d’Or. That was my case.

In Olof Lundh’s book “The National Team According to Lundh”, the TV4 journalist writes how Sjöstrand’s (and former national team coach Lasse Richts) relationships and statements about Ibrahimovic before the 2018 World Cup irritated the captain of national team Janne Andersson and, according to Lundh, they forced a press release that Zlatan no It was relevant to go with Blågult to the Russian championship.

Considering what has been written before, in Lundh’s book, for example, is it sensible for you to comment on Zlatan and the relationship with the union?

– No, I can’t say or comment because I haven’t read the book. Otherwise it is not sensitive in any way. I think it is good and important that we have a good relationship and dialogue with the players and leaders who in different ways represent or have represented Sweden and our Swedish national teams, says Håkan Sjöstrand.

“I have not read …”

Doesn’t it seem strange to you that you, or Stefan Pettersson, don’t read or participate in highly acclaimed interviews that are written or broadcast and that affect him personally, the union and in these cases Zlatan Ibrahimovic?

– You have to keep things separate. I saw the interview with Zlatan, I saw it. It was good. However, I have not read the book because I have no interest in reading it. Just because a journalist writes a book, I must be able to judge for myself if I want to read it.

– People get involved, some even have a job to think things through, so a lot is written about football and shows the greatness of the sport, but I can’t keep up and accept and have opinions about everyone’s opinion in that way. There are many who have opinions without having a correct perception, but you have to accept that in my role, says Håkan Sjöstrand.

Published: November 25, 2020 kl. 23.25

READ ON