PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Jesper Blomqvist has admitted what, or rather who, scared him the most when new at IFK Gothenburg.
Thomas Ravelli can confirm.
– I built up his psyche so that he would be able to become a professional, says Ravelli to Sportbibeln.
1993 came Jesper Blomqvist to IFK Gothenburg as a 19-year-old. In his first season in Blåvitt, he won SM gold and played in the Champions League. In the same year, Blomqvist also made his national team debut and participated in the World Cup in 1994. After three years in IFK, the move went to AC Milan, which was followed up by clubs such as Parma, Manchester United and Everton.
Jesper Blomqvist’s fear
During Jesper’s time in IFK Göteborg it was Thomas Ravelli who guarded the till. When 19-year-old Blomqvist came to the club, Ravelli was 34. The players fought together in both Blåvitt and the Swedish national team for a few years.
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Blomqvist has admitted in retrospect that it was precisely the veteran goalkeeper who made him most nervous as a newcomer to the club.
– In my absolute first match for IFK Gothenburg, I sat on the bench and it was the substitutes who were supposed to warm up the goalkeepers. Before, I was advised by the other players that “if you miss and Ravelli starts screaming and yelling at you, don’t worry about it. He is just like that”. So I was terrified when I had to warm him up, Blomqvist has told in the podcast “The Match”.
READ MORE: When a wild Thomas Ravelli scared the life out of Jesper Blomqvist – during the warm-up: “Was advised to…”
Thomas Ravelli admits
Thomas Ravelli confirms to Sportbibeln that this was the case.
– Yes it is true. Jesper was terrified of me in training too. After all, I was the one who built up his psyche so that he would be able to become a professional, says Ravelli with a twinkle in his eye.
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The WC 94 hero explains that the anger was due to bad posts.
– The posts that were played in the warm-up, I was very careful that they were in a certain way. If you didn’t hit the posts that way, then I got angry. I needed to be able to time the post correctly and jump as high as possible.
READ MORE: Niklas Wikegård has had enough – points out the worst thing about Swedish hockey right now: “I’m scared”
Tribute to Mikael Nilsson
Someone whose post Ravelli was happy with was Mikael Nilsson’swho played in IFK Gothenburg 1987-2001 and in the national team 1991-1996.
– Mikael Nilsson knew how to do it. If he couldn’t hit, Jesper had to do it in a few international matches, and then he was terrified. He knew how angry I got then.
So it was because of bad posts that you got so angry?
– Yes, if the posts are too bad, it’s no use. Then when you have a goalkeeper who gets angry, you face even more, then it doesn’t work at all. You get pressured then, says Ravelli.
READ MORE: Thomas Ravelli’s adamant criticism of the Swedish national team – the WC 94 hero’s honest words: “They have incredibly big problems”