It is not just the effort after 97 minutes of High Chaparall football, as Norrköping’s coach Rikard Norling called it, that makes Nyman’s cheeks flare red.
He is clearly embarrassed when he hears what both opponents and teammates say about him, especially after the two goals that saved 2-2 for Norrköping at home against Elfsborg.
“Can never relax”
Johan Larsson:
– He’s a good player. He’s tough. Before, he was windy too. He’s a troublesome bastard. It’s like our (Per) Frick. He always works the situations clearly. You can never feel that you can relax with the ball, he is always there. He’s a nice player.
– Johan is a nice guy. Otherwise I do not know what to answer to that, says Nyman.
Linus Wahlqvist sees Nyman as the series’ main central striker.
– Linus is kind. There are many talented players in that position. It’s nice as a striker to be able to contribute with goals. It gives me confidence and good for the team that we come back, says Nyman.
Clearly, it can be stated that IFK Norrköping lives high on Nyman, his hard work and goal danger (five goals in ten matches).
Refined positional play
Over the years, he has refined his positional game, the art of seeking the right surfaces. Both goals against Elfsborg were examples of this.
– I may not be so involved in the game structure anymore, for me it is to find the right positions. These are also the surfaces we are looking for. This is something I have developed since I came home from Germany (Eintracht Braunschweig 2016–2018), says Nyman, who will soon begin negotiations on an extended contract.
Despite Nyman’s achievements and status in the Allsvenskan, IFK Norrköping is no better than ninth before the month-long summer break. Clearly below the club’s level of ambition.
– We are on the rise, but it has been mixed during the spring. Good performance, poorer results and good results but poorer performance. We need to be more stable and better for longer periods in the matches.
Rikard Norling has promised reinforcements during the transfer window.
– We’ll see what happens. There are usually some in and some out. With the squad we have, I think we are strong and I know that there is another level, says Christoffer Nyman.