Hugo Larsson sat on the bench for 90 minutes against Azerbaijan on Thursday. It was the third international match in a row that he was benched, although he had to jump in both against Denmark and Serbia.
The aftermath of that has made headlines. Union captain Jon Dahl Tomasson justified his decision with the fact that the 20-year-old plays too much laterally. A performance that the midfielder himself was critical of, whereupon he openly went hard on the Danish coach.
Early on Sunday morning, SvFF announced that Larsson has left the national team – due to a minor injury.
Shortly after, German Fussball News and Expressen stated that the midfielder is not injured at all and that he will train with Frankfurt.
Was called to a meeting with the national team manager
The soccer channel has the same information and several sources also say that Larsson was called to a meeting at the national team hotel on Saturday evening, where, among other things, national team manager Stefan Pettersson was supposed to have attended. There he is said to have been told that it would be best if he left the collection.
During Sunday, Fotbollskanalen several times contacted press manager Petra Thorén, national team manager Stefan Pettersson and football manager Kim Källström to ask questions about the meeting that caused Hugo Larsson to go home.
Don’t want to comment
In the end, Petra Thorén answered and when asked if there was a meeting with Hugo Larsson on Saturday evening, she answers:
– Our national team management has dialogue with players all the time. There are meetings, discussions and dialogues between players and leaders all the time. It is natural.
Was there a meeting between Hugo and the national team management last night?
– I didn’t say that. I said there are dialogues going on all the time.
But was there a meeting between Hugo and the national team management last night?
– Meetings… I mean. There are ongoing dialogues all the time.
Was there any particular reason to have meetings with Hugo after the statements that were made?
– We have a dialogue with our players all the time. Before and after mixed zones. On and off, throughout the collection.
– I will not comment on this case any more now. We are fully focused on the match that awaits tonight.
“A medical assessment”
An hour before kick-off against Estonia, Stefan Pettersson appeared at the National Arena.
Were you present at the meeting with Hugo and were you the ones who suggested that he leave?
– Meeting and meeting… we talked, it ended up being decided that he would leave, he says.
Did the interview he did have anything to do with him leaving?
– The interview? Aha, no it didn’t. It was a medical assessment.
What do you think about several reports that he is not injured?
– That was what was assessed here, I don’t know what is assessed elsewhere.
Before kick-off against Estonia vowned national team captain Jon Dahl Tomassonwhen he was in Viaplay, to answer questions about what happened around Hugo Larsson.