The newspaper caught Riddersholm’s outburst between two exercises, when he loudly scolded the players.
The club’s management set out ahead of the playing year with the ambition to be involved and fight for the SM gold. After 22 rounds, Norrköping is no better than twelve and has only managed to win six games.
Since he came to the club (former second coach in Genk in the Belgian league) a little over a month ago, Glen Riddersholm has repeatedly pointed out that he needs to work on the discipline and attitude in the squad.
“I hate it”
After the (0-1) half-time deficit against Hammarby recently, the Dane made it clear to some players that he would replace them immediately after the break if they did not follow his guidelines.
Norrköping came out as a different team and won the match 4–1.
In today’s training, he tired the players, gathered them on the side of the field and gave them a planing.
— It is your job to work – to maintain the level. Every damn day here. No matter what. That’s why sometimes we lose games because no one knows how to play the game in the game. You must push! I don’t want to see you feeling sorry for yourselves. Otherwise, we can terminate the contract. I hate it, you know? Especially after we meet again after Sunday and we have an important match, shouted Riddersholm.
Makes high demands
Afterwards, he explained to Norrköping Tidningar:
— It should be feelings. We must have intensity. There are eight games left in the season, we have to make demands, says the 50-year-old.
— We stopped an exercise, had a pep talk and it didn’t get any better. We are in a U-turn of the season where we are trying to change the whole collective culture. I don’t want and can’t accept anything else, but it got better (after the scolding). It will take time, these are people we work with and they will learn what I want to get out.
— We must take steps, that must be understood. When you come up here, you must be guided in your development. The young players must understand what is required and we must have intensity and quality in what we do. We have the ambitions to take steps.
IFK Norrköping meets Kalmar at home in the Allsvenskan on Saturday.