TRONDHEIM (Nettavisen): Rosenborg has every chance of completing a good first season under Kjetil Rekdal with a medal in 2022. At his home in Lerkendal, RBK has been unbeatable this year, which he showed again when he came back twice and finally captured the Three important points at home against Bodo/Glimt last weekend.
The first half was really bad, and then it seemed like we were moved by the fact that the stands were full. Not many people here have experienced it and it seems like we have electricity in our shoes at times. Then we had a proper conversation during the break, and then I think it was just the opposite, and obviously we were the better team in the second half, Markus Henriksen told Nettavizen.
– When we’re bad, we’re really bad
The RBK captain was impressed that they were able to get back into the game after being twice behind against the league champions last season.
– It shows respect, so it’s good, he says.
He is well aware of the pressure that comes with playing for Norway’s most winning club. Henriksen practically grew up in Lerkendal and lives well with the expectations of his surroundings, but notes that perhaps no one else does.
– It’s about history and it can’t be compared. We have noticed that there are players who have played for other Norwegian clubs who come here. There are completely different expectations, but it is important to twist them and turn them into something positive.
Henriksen clearly had a lot to go on and the lower level was sometimes really bad. Then he points a stern finger at his teammates:
When we are bad, we are really bad. There are especially some matches away from home where we conceded 3-4 goals and then matches are difficult to win. At home, we have the confidence to beat everyone else, he says, knowing they are the only team undefeated at home at Eliteserien this season.
But away from home, there were five losses, six draws and only three wins in 14 attempts. Henriksen believes that playing at RBK and the feeling of pressure that comes with it is something completely different.
– You can only see in the courses that there are always a lot of people there. He says it’s a matter of habit.
A super talent can get a chance
Earlier in the week, in-form RBK player Carlo Hulls suffered a knee injury that will sideline him for the remaining games of the season. The Dane provided a total of 16 assists and has been on the field in all of the league’s games this year.
Naturally, it leaves plenty of room for coach Kjetil Rekdal to fill.
The one who might be a good fit to play on Sunday is super talent Sverre Nypan. The 15-year-old has impressed in training, as well as the Norway under-16 team recently, and Rekdal confirmed to Adresseavisen on Saturday that he was considering giving the young midfielder confidence from the start at Grimstad.
Nypan would eventually become the youngest Rosenborg player at Eliteserien if he got time to play.
Direktesport commentator Robin Haugen closely followed Nypan in international matches last month.
– It was clearly one of the best recent combos, Haugen told Nettavisen.
Especially in the match against Belarus at the end of October, Neban made a great impression.
– In the first match, he was the mastermind behind almost everything Norway made. What I think makes him so insanely exciting is first and foremost that he has an understanding of football and a wisdom on the game that is completely unique at such a young age. The commentator says he sees holes that very few see, plus he has the ability to hit those passes too, and compares the shooting star to another Norwegian who made his Eliteserien debut at a very young age:
– He manages to pass lanes where there is almost nowhere to be found. There are a few “Ødegaard sentiments,” as he weighs those passes perfectly.
Watch Sverre Nypan wreaking havoc in Norway in the video below:
Ødegaard was somewhat younger, 15 years and 118 days, when he made his debut with Strømsgodset in 2014. Nypan is 16 years old on December 19.
– In Sverre, Norway and Rosenborg they have a gem. It’s still early days, but it’s hard to see that he won’t go very far with this understanding of football and this technology, says Haugen.
On Sunday, Rosenborg travels to Grimstad where they meet a desperate Gerf team who must win to have any hope of renewing his contract at Elitzeren.
The match is just as important to Rosenborg, who counts on winning for a chance to pass Bodo/Glimt in the fight for the silver medal.
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