Hasse Backe’s most memorable moment with Sven-Göran Eriksson is one of the very best we’ve heard: “You drive me”

Now the former coaching colleague tells us Hasse Backe an absolutely incredible story from their time together at Manchester City. They took over the big club, which looked nothing like it does today, in 2007 and Eriksson was the head coach while Backe was the assistant coach.

Backe’s anecdote

The Brazilian was signed in the first season Elano into the team and he would be a great success. But it wasn’t always easy to deal with the offensive star player.
– Until Christmas, he had been by far our best player, but then you know that it can take a year to come from outside and adapt to the Premier League. Because the league is so tough, tough, tough. After the new year, things started to get worse for Elano and in training it didn’t look good at all, says Hasse Backe in the podcast “Sporthuset”, see the video below.
– So I interrupted a training session, calmly walked up to Elano and said that “at least you can start moving a little during the training sessions, that would be good”. Then Svennis stands outside with his arms crossed and a small grin. Whereupon Elano just leaves training and walks, while the other 22 players stay and just watch as the star disappears. I finish the training and then go over to Svennis, who is still standing and smiling.

READ MORE: Wayne Rooney’s emotional words about Sven-Göran Eriksson’s fantastic gesture – says everything about “Svenni’s” greatness: “Grateful”

Then Sven-Göran Eriksson shows proof of what an incredible connoisseur of people he was in his role as football coach, see the video below.
– I ask him: “What is happening now!?”. “Nah, nah, you have to learn the difference between a brass band from the north and the south of Brazil, it’s a hell of a difference,” said Svennis. “Those from the north are like us, Europeans, but from the south they are God’s gift to football. So now you have to make him happy and you’re lucky if he comes tomorrow, otherwise we’ve cod 120 million and he’ll get a one-way ticket to Rio,” says Backe in the podcast.
– Elano still comes the next day and then Svennis has said: “Nah, but you know those ‘God’s gift to football’, they like ladies, so ask him how things are going with love”. “You’re messing with me, I can’t do that,” I replied. I don’t think I slept that night, I was so nervous. The next practice I ask Elano how he feels about love and the corners of his mouth go up to his ears and then he’s back, then he’s the best again. “It’s not more difficult,” said Svennis.

Surely Svennis was an absolutely fantastic coach? Share the article and have your say!

Watch the video: