It was an interview the likes of which I don’t remember seeing. FC Inter had lost to VPS in the Veikkausliiga match on Monday by 1–3.
After the match, Inter’s captain, topper Juuso Hämäläinen arrived at Ruuttu’s interview completely out of his comfort zone.
The picture turned from the celebrating VPS supporters to the interview station.
– Juuso Hämäläinen, there’s still a celebration on the field, but you’re not celebrating. What kind of match was this, asked Ruuttu’s commentator Toni Lönnroos.
– I’m not sure. I have nothing more to say. I’ve given my all, and it’s just not enough at the moment, a tearful Hämäläinen answered.
– I do not know. I’m sorry, but I can’t, I really can’t anymore, Hämäläinen continued, took the headphones off his head and left.
– No more words are needed for that, Lönnroos was amazed.
Strong reactions: “Sadness, guilt and shame”
Hämäläinen’s interview attracted a lot of attention on social media.
– This was an interview I will never forget. Emotions also surfaced in the commentary room, it was better to be quiet for a while and swallow, Lönnroos wrote in X.
In his playing career, achieved the Finnish championship with Inter Mika Ojala stated that Hämäläinen’s interview “told everything”.
– Sadness, guilt and shame. In Turku, reality has hit you hard in the face. Actions are needed now, but above all, love. More together, now and always. Cheers, Ojala wrote.
Another Inter legend, current MP (left) Timo Furuholm startled Hämäläinen’s interview. Furuholm also had time to play with Hämäläinen at Inter.
– Since quitting, I’ve never felt like pulling on buttons as much as now, when I’m watching my beloved company’s toddler.
– And I love the club’s current captain Juuso Hämäläi so much that I would be ready to share his pain immediately if I could.
Urheilu’s expert, finished his playing career last season Henry Aalto says that Hämäläinen’s interview first of all aroused appreciation.
– It was great that Juuso knew and dared to be a humane, vulnerable person and show his feelings. He has no doubt given his all, as he said, and is deeply disappointed. Maybe also a feeling of powerlessness when nothing seems to work.
– Of course, he also received sympathy. I know how it feels to have a lot of potential but nothing works out. It’s a tough place, especially in a leading position, as a captain. Great, honest and raw reaction all round.
The biggest flop of the early season
Inter was in the Veikkausliiga with silver in 2019 and 2020. After that came the rankings 4, 5 and 6.
Now Inter was generally quoted in season previews as a top contender, in the medal fight. Inter’s announced player budget rose from 670,000 to 900,000 euros.
The head coach arrived from the ruins of Honga Vesa Vasara as well as foreigner confirmations that have proven their level Florian Krebs and Kevin Jansen. Experienced defender known from the national team Albin Granlund moved from Mariehamn.
High speed Darren Smith was on the finish line again in the winter season. The foreign reinforcements seemed to be successful during the training season.
In the winter, Vasara led Inter to the Liigacup victory. Based on the training season, all the pieces were in place and Inter’s enthusiasm is understandable.
With nine matches left in the league season, Inter’s balance is one win, two draws and six losses. In terms of goals conceded (20) and goal difference (–10), Inter is the weakest in the series. Behind in the standings are only winless AC Oulu and EIF.
Inter’s game has looked really good at times. It has had usual game elements and progression patterns recognizable to Vasara’s groups.
At the moment, Inter has opened up the opponent’s form with style and dominated matches, such as against HJK, but HJK claimed a 1-0 away victory in the “crisis derby”.
Inter’s weakness culminates in decisive situations at both ends of the pitch, says expert Henri Aalto.
– In the last third, probably partly due to a lack of self-confidence and partly due to a lack of clinicalness, the final solutions have fallen short and no effectiveness has been obtained from good attacks.
– Inter have had problems defending their box. VPS got far too many times and too easily to try to score from the best position, even with manpower in the box. For some reason, the basics are lacking.
According to Aalto, you could see from the body language of Inter’s players how lost their self-confidence is. It doesn’t necessarily show up as mistakes, but the players don’t know how to react in quick moments and act through automation.
It leads to delays and overthinking.
It has again led to a vicious circle when no profits have been accumulated. Inter has also lost its lead several times since the beginning of the season.
– I’m sure that “Vesku” Vasara and the rest of the staff have been taught game-related things, but in what state do they get the players in a difficult place mentally. I know that Vesku has worked a lot on this in recent years and developed as a coach.
– But now there is a big challenge, and the signs are not the most promising. Against VPS, Inter was not ready. VPS looked much better coached and prepared.
Where do the problems come from?
Henri Aalto knows Vesa Vasara very well. Aalto started his career in Honga and played in the club again from 2018 to 2023. Vasara coached Honka from 2017 to 2023.
Vasara has received heavy criticism from time to time for his team’s ability to control the ball and play elegantly, but nothing happens in the crucial areas.
Aalto does not feel that poor performance in penalty areas is Vasara’s original sin, even though Honga had that problem in one season. On the other hand, Honka has been the team that has created the most goals and chances in the Veikkausliiga.
– Vesku strongly emphasizes that you must advance whenever there is an opportunity, and you must constantly find a threat towards the last line.
Afterward, Aalto points out that sometimes Vasara’s coaching can become too nuanced and secondary. If the game doesn’t work, you should be able to adjust it.
Vasara has not been able to show the strengths of his players at Inter.
– Would more time be needed there? It doesn’t exist now, but maybe it would be needed to internalize such a more demanding way of playing and perform successfully.
In Honga, Vasara’s team focused a lot on the blocking of crosses and shots and the principles of positioning. These things are also wrong in Inter’s game now.
– Those are things that Vesku has worked with. He has also succeeded in them as a coach. But maybe now the latent threats and shortcomings have come to the fore.
– For example, Inter has not been able to adapt their playing in the lead position.
Can the locks be opened?
At the moment, the coach’s wishes and the players’ actions do not meet. First, however, at Inter, you have to open the locks on the mental side.
– The all-new style rarely works. Maintaining patience and pouring faith is not easy, but that’s what makes coaching so fascinating. It is tactical management and people management, psychologically considering many individuals.
Aalto emphasizes that in a difficult situation, the most important thing for Inter’s players is to maintain trust in each other and faith in their game process. Confidence only comes through playing.
– You have to go to the field and implement. Then it leaves, if it wants to leave. That’s why sports are so wonderful, because no one can promise you a single win.