Kent-Are Antonsen and Tromsø IL have had a leaden start to the season with five straight series losses. Balsfjordingen is clear that TIL will be able to turn the situation around.
– Believing that we will win the next match is great, and we really have full confidence in the coach, no doubt about that, says Kent-Are Antonsen.
He sees no value in replacing head coach Jørgen Vik after the leaden start, and he believes that there are many complex factors which mean that the team which just before Christmas secured a surprising league bronze, is struggling at the very bottom of the table the following six months.
– It is probably a complex problem. We not only lost players and the head coach after the season, but we also lost important players during the last season, such as Casper (Øyvann, journ. note). Now we have many young lads, but they need time, even if some of them have broken several “codes” already, says Kent-Are Antonsen.
He himself did well in the breach when TIL lost 1-2 away to Viking on Sunday, after an overtime penalty against several minutes of overtime. Then TIL had a couple of great opportunities to decide the match in their favor just before.
– It was so close, and it is only small adjustments in the game that allow this to go from an OK away game to a very good away game, says the 29-year-old midfield terrier.
He believes that the loss in Stavanger was the heaviest of the spring so far of the five in the series, with the late goal completely fresh in his mind. Before the Viking match, the cup dream also ended in 2024, away to Vålerenga after extra time.
– Losing like that in Stavanger is a bit symptomatic for us right now. At the same time, there is a lot of good in what we do, but it adds little value when there are zero points, says Antonsen.
He admits that the situation affects them as players, and that there may also be additional pressure on the oldest and most experienced players to lead in the “war” for points.
– Participating in setting a record for the number of straight losses at the start of the season is not what I most wanted, but I am confident that we will be able to turn this around quickly. With the young players constantly developing, this could be very good. Believe me, no one can take this away from me, and soon the ball must start rolling our way. There is no need for hocus pocus, we just have to keep working hard as we do, says Kent-Are Antonsen.
Sjøl himself feels nimble and fast, and has entered a season without serious injuries that have set him back.
– It’s fun to “put down meters”. Now it’s just a bad slap in the ass from the cup match that bothers me, says Antonsen and smiles.
Now Odd waits at home on Sunday, before Bodø/Glimt is the opponent at Aspmyra on 16 May. Then Rosenborg awaits at Romssa Arena.
Tags: full confidence coach
