Bodø/Glimt has traded big this winter, but European rules mean that several new signings have to be scrapped. It creates a headache for Glimt coach Kjetil Knutsen (54).
– More players must be scrapped. It is a rule that is very poorly arranged for us. So we come out of it very badly, unfortunately. It is not optimal, says Knutsen to VG.
Bodø/Glimt have brought in six new players before the season and have (at least) double coverage in all positions. But for European Cup games, they can only register three new players.
– Have you given any thought to who will be absent?
– It will be registered on 2 February, so we will see where we are in the process then. But yes, I have my thoughts on that, says Knutsen.
Stian Høgland follows Glimt closely as a journalist in Avisa Nordland. He has his suspicions about who might have to give way.
– It doesn’t look bright for players like Odin Bjørtuft and Pemi Faris. They have been very good in training and in the matches they have played. Still, I don’t envision players who Omar Elabdellaoui and Fredrik Bjørkan does not appear. The eye of the needle is extremely narrow, says Høgland.
If the journalist is right, it means that two players who together cost NOK 13-14 million will not get a place in the European squad. But it is perhaps understandable when you see the selection Kjetil Knutsen is ruling over right now:
Glimpse brought back last year midfield general Patrick Berg. In addition, they have brought in six new players this winter. The use of money for Glimt – and not least Molde’s purchase of Berisha vetoes – has created a debate about spending money in Norwegian football.
Knutsen believes the debate is “excessive” and makes a clear statement about what he thinks about own consumption.
– I don’t understand why our spending is ramped up the way it is. It is greatly exaggerated by the media. We will see after the season how much money has been spent in relation to what we generate. Then I think more people will get a shock, Knutsen says in what he adds:
– We are in a completely different position now than a few years ago. We wanted double coverage in all positions due to a tighter match schedule. It is necessary to bring in more players in the stable when competing internationally, says Knutsen.
– What do you think about Molde’s purchase of Berisha?
– I cannot understand why everyone should have an opinion about it. I can only understand that this is incredibly good for Norwegian football. Molde is competent enough to know what is best for them. They have been fighting at the top for over 10 years now, so they obviously run the club well, says Knutsen.
With more signings, the chances have decreased for the youngsters. Knutsen agrees that the road to becoming a Glimt player is tougher than before.
– It is a different time, and a different competition today. More academy players will probably have to be loaned out to other clubs to get playing time. Nevertheless, I believe and hope that we will see more locals breaking through in the next few years, says Knutsen.
Stian Høgland believes that the squad Glimt has brought to Spain will be considerably smaller when the elite series kicks off on 10 April.
– There will probably be some sales, yes. I guess we will see more players disappear before February, says Høgland.
