Years in France destroyed the joy of Linda Sällström and Adelina Engman’s football team. Sällström and Engman share their bitter experiences in France in ‘s new series Hengaa Helmareid.
In an environment that inspires sun, warmth and a high standard of football. Linda Sällström and Adelina Engman were full of enthusiasm before moving to France – but time in the south left a bitter aftertaste.
The national team’s paint queen Sällström moved to Paris FC in 2018. She says it all started well, which also led to a follow-up contract. After that, the role on the team changed, the number of goals dropped and the mental burden increased.
– The environment is really tough. It went so far that football was no longer fun. I thought I would persevere in the European Championships, and then I could finally quit, Sällström says and continues:
– The situation was so bad that on the days of the game I hoped to sit on a bench or even better in a gallery. And that should not be the case.
In the Hang Out with Helmars series, Linda Sällström also explains why Hässleholm is Sweden’s third ugliest city, baking a sugar cake with seniors, eating hodars and showcasing her rowing skills. See section below.
Sällström paints a picture of a toxic French football environment bursting with negativity.
He is used to getting strong feedback from coaches and says he knows how to be constructive. But when the team’s junior players theatrically began to mock and bark at the experienced Sällström in rehearsals, the situation was different.
Sällström gestures wildly with his hands as he gives an example of feedback from teammates.
– What the hell! Ugh! You’re shit! That was the level of feedback.
Peer support in national team camps
Adelina Engman laughs as she cooks salmon pasta at her apartment in Stockholm.
– It was quite a lot of fun: In the national team camps, Linda and I sat in pairs and shook our feelings.
Engman moved to Montpellier after a seasonal injury-filled Chelsea season in the spring of 2020.
The first thought was that this feels like a dream transfer. Sunny city near the Riviera, Nice and Barcelona.
– Then hit the corona and a travel ban. I sat alone in the cabin and it wasn’t very comfortable.
Adelina Engman explains why Sweden is better than France, mixes cows and horses with Skansen and gets nervous at the table curling table. See the Hang Out with Pearls section below.
Isolation was not the only problem. Both Engman and Sällström experienced a dichotomy between foreign and French players.
Engman’s biggest challenge was language. After the transfer in the summer, the coach announced that from September, no one will be allowed to speak English during training.
– I haven’t read a course in French at school, so I thought “this is going to be great.”
– The coach didn’t speak English. Sometimes he might shout ADELINA and something in French. He knew I didn’t understand, and it wouldn’t help if he screamed louder.
When Engman saw how open Swedish society was during the pandemic, longing intensified.
– I thought it would be great to come back and have a life outside of football as well.
After spending half a year in Växjö, Engman moved to the ranks of Hammarby in the winter. He says he enjoys Sweden.
Sällström, on the other hand, switched back to the familiar Vittsjö cry through HJK. The medical school will continue in the fall – as will football.
Because now it’s nice to play again.
– Early in the season I ran around the field and wondered: What the heck is this? This is fun!
Supplier: Sebastian Backman
The Finnish women’s national football team is participating in the European Championships. The competition will take place in England from 6 to 31. July. All Helmari matches are seen on ‘s channels. You can find everything you need for the competition on ‘s European Championship website.