DRAMMEN (VG) Several players in the Bodø / Glimt camp have problems ahead of the big match against Molde on Wednesday night. Captain Patrick Berg (23) is definitely out.
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This is confirmed by coach Kjetil Knutsen to VG. On Sunday, the reigning league champion lost two points in the gold match when Strømsgodset kept them 1–1 in Drammen.
Before the match, a number of players had problems with their bodies. Berg, who had to leave the field after 20 minutes with a knee injury, felt sick. Morten Konradsen (23), Sondre Brunstad Fet (24) and other players in the squad did the same. Fat had to give up during the break due to the disease.
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– Yes, we have had a bit in the group. We can not use anything as an excuse. We are a large group that will pull this together. Sometimes you get illness and injury. It is part of the game, says Knutsen to VG in this interview:
– Small margins
With participation in the Europa Conference League, Bodø / Glimt players must play more matches than their elite league colleagues. After the sensational 6-1 victory over Rome Thursday night, Knutsen mustered the same students against Strømsgodset three days later.
Several of them were then dubious at first.
– Patrick and Sondre were insecure towards the match. But we went for them. There were small margins if they were to be ready. Sondre was probably more influenced than Patrick, and both had to go out. In that sense, we did not get paid very well, says Knutsen.
Berg received a blow to the knee when he blocked a shot from Godset striker Fred Friday (26).
– There was something cracking inside the knee there. He could not continue. We have to get a picture taken and check what it is, says the Glimt boss about Berg, who is limping out of Marienlyst Stadium here.
Glimt’s national team player traveled home to Bodø after the match. On Monday, Glimt announces that Berg will lose the match against Molde. The extent of the damage is still unknown – but the MRI images are less serious than feared.
Even with illness and injury problems, Knutsen refuses to look negatively at the fact that the Molde match is already on Wednesday. Instead, Knutsen continues the mantra of seeing the positive in all possible situations, something he has also imprinted in the heads of his players after he took over as Glimt boss before the 2018 season. Before kick-off, the northerners lead the series by one point. Seven rounds remain.
– Molde did the job against Stabæk. We are like neighbors at the table. I guess it’s a pretty energetic Molde team that will fire on all cylinders. We look forward. We must dare to attack and deal with the forces of Molde. Then they have some weaknesses, like all teams, that we will punish.
– Is a bit at stake
While the midfield trio Berg, Fet and Konradsen are among the guys who have struggled in recent days, the wingers Amahl Pellegrino (31) and Ola Solbakken (23) are ready for the “final” at Aker Stadium.
– Finals and finals … There are many matches left after that, but there is a bit at stake. I had not taken away the European Cup just to have the series and gold match there. Yes, thank you – both, says Pellegrino in this interview:
Against Godset, edge colleague Solbakken scored a world-class goal when he bent the ball at an angle from outside the 16-meter. Now he is looking forward to the big showdown against the title challenger from Møre og Romsdal.
– We have a good squad, so we are more than ready for that match, Solbakken says to VG.
Kick-off in Molde is at 20.00 Wednesday night.
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