LILLESTRØM (VG) National team manager Ståle Solbakken began Monday’s press conference with another bad news. Then he gave a clear message to those present.
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– I do not bother to answer questions that contain the injured players because it has nothing to do with it. They will not come, they are not relevant and they are not important in the two upcoming international matches here, so we can hope that many of them are available in November, says Solbakken.
Solbakken began the press conference by saying that goalkeeper Per-Kristian Bråtveit has announced his retirement and will be replaced by Strømsgodset goalkeeper Viljar Myhra.
He also confirmed that Ørjan Håskjold Nyland is facing the match against Turkey.
At the same time, he made a reservation that many were curious about standing with Erling Braut Haaland.
– It is progressing quietly and calmly with Erling, and it is not dangerous, but he is nowhere near getting ready, says Solbakken.
He went on to say clearly that he was not interested in talking about the players who are not present.
Rune Almenning Jarstein, André Hansen, Per-Kristian Bråtveit, Omar Elabdellaoui, Jonas Svensson, Kristoffer Ajer, Mathias Normann, Fredrik Midtsjø, Sander Berge, Joshua King, Erling Braut Haaland and Alexander Sørloth have all been confirmed.
– To stand here and discuss what could have happened, who could have done this and that, it is completely uninteresting. Those players are Norway’s least important players right now, says Solbakken.
When asked what it has been like to be national team manager when the deadlines run in, he answers the following:
– It has been quite extreme, but we can not do anything about it. We finished all this early today. We have had a good coaching meeting on the morning twig now where we have made some battle plans.
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