HJK’s game is not convincing and criticism is pouring in from supporters. Can a football club be in crisis this early in the season? Vote for the best goal of the week and win a prize!
Helsinki Football Club remained in the headlines throughout the winter. Question marks arose when the head coach was selected Ferran Sibila could not officially act in his role due to the lack of a Uefa Pro license.
Promoted to head coach Ossi Virta could hardly wait in the winter to be after May Day with a megaphone in hand apologizing in front of the HJK supporter’s stand after the goalless EIF match. The third draw in a row raised the question for many – is HJK in crisis?
– Maybe they are closer to the crisis than it often could be at this stage. For me, in the light of existing information, the crisis is something more than now, Urheilu’s expert Henri Aalto says.
In the latest episode of the 11 friends podcast, we consider whether the word crisis usually has a cover in football at such an early stage of the season.
– In general, I think the club can already be in crisis in the early season, if it is possible to see even before the start of the season or in the first games, that there is nothing to build on and there are no indications that the group could be welded together. That is rare, says Aalto.
In the case of HJK, the season has started poorly in terms of points and with fluctuating game performances, but on the other hand, the team has lost only one of its six matches. Sports expert Erkka V. Lehtola feels that the events of winter have their effect.
– It has been known at HJK that this happens if the wins don’t start coming right away and preferably many in a row. HJK played this game during the winter so that the trigger (of criticism) is sensitive, says Lehtola.
Lehtola reflects that the use of the term criticism and crisis is stronger at the beginning of the season.
– It’s different to play three matches without a win at the beginning of the season than, say, in July. Then no one would make a crisis as quickly as now, even though the situation may be similar. The importance of the beginning of the season is not emphasized for nothing. The loading of the beginning of the season raises the discussion to the second power.
During the season, big expectations were also directed at, for example, Ilves, whose season has started with a bang.
– In the case of Ilves, I can honestly say that I don’t feel that they are in a crisis. They are at the beginning of the process and a lot has changed there. Of course, they can quickly drive themselves into a crisis if patience is not enough. I believe that is enough, says Aalto.
Patience is also measured in Helsinki. HJK’s next matches are particularly interesting, because on Saturday they will face Inter, who also started the season in a shaky way. Next week, league leader VPS will visit Helsinki. These matches give the biggest champion favorite direction for a longer season.
The supporters’ patience has already been tested – the EIF match ended with a whistle concert and the new sports director Vesa Mäken to screams that demanded kicks.
– Especially within the team, the most important thing is to stay away from the conversation. The head coach has a big responsibility in how to balance the team and maintain composure with development targets in mind. At HJK, in these situations, we weigh whether it is Sibila or Virta who is doing it now or whether it is Mäki or the CEO Aki Riihilahtiwhich is missing somehow, Aalto reflects.
Listen to the whole conversation and the new episode of the 11 friends podcast here!
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A new episode of the 11 friends soccer podcast is published every Tuesday. You can find all the episodes in this link!