Sarpsborg 08, Eliteserien | Berget about the Cardiff fade: – Realized it quickly

(Nettavisen): The Blues from “Solbyen” have never quite managed to argue their way into the discussion as a “team to be reckoned with” at the very top of Norwegian football.

But expectations are clearly present for Sarpsborg 08 after an exciting transfer window, where former national team captain Stefan Johansen, the great talent Sondre Ørjasæter and Swedish Aimar Sher have arrived.

With Johansen in, Stefan Bilborn has gained a new player with a lot of experience. The previous one appeared last autumn, and is called Jo Inge Berget.

– How has it been to get Stefan Johansen into the team, Jo Inge?

– He has been involved in a lot, and has been national team captain in many matches. A better manager is therefore difficult to get hold of, so it is a huge plus for us. We have a young group with many exciting players, but it is important for Sarpsborg as a club that we have both. It is a signal from the club that they want to take it a step further. Because he comes with a standard. He’s also a good friend of mine, so it’s just nice.

Towards the end of 2023, it became clear that the 33-year-old from Gran is an 08 player for two new seasons. The decision was made after a talk at home, where he finally got the thumbs up for a further existence as a footballer.

– It is, of course, a dialogue, but at times it is naturally frustrating for those at home as well. But at the same time, she (the wife, editor’s note) knows what it’s all about, so she has to do a lot of it at home. I have to be selfish at times and choose myself, and that is how you are aware. Therefore, much of the success on the pitch is her fault, and the work she does. One day I’ll be a full-time dad too, he says and smiles.

In August 2023, Berget returned to Norwegian football, almost ten years after the transfer from Molde to Cardiff in the Premier League. He played that together with both Magnus Wolf Eikrem and Mats Møller Dæhli, under the management of Ole Gunnar Solskjær.

Møller Dæhli was brought back to Molde this winter, which means that all three can be seen in the Eliteserien 2024.

– It’s just really cool. I saw Mats against Legia, which was very promising. A slightly new role from what I know him as, but he runs and runs a lot. Mats is a class player, so there is no doubt that Molde will benefit from him. He came home a little younger than the rest of us, so he will soon be an important piece for Molde for many years to come. He looks scary.

– How did you experience that time in Cardiff? Where it seemed to become a thing that Solskjær brought three from Norway.

– It’s a bit like it is in Football Europe, where football coaches like to pick players they know. It is therefore not certain that the three of us would have ended up in Cardiff if Ole Gunnar had not been there. I’m aware of that, but that’s how it turned out. Cardiff also found themselves in a situation where they were fighting for relegation, so it was not the right time to throw in three young Norwegians. There was therefore not much playing time, but we had a chance. A lot was thanks to Solskjær, but I don’t think there was necessarily anything extra. But you were quickly seen as “the manager’s boys”.

However, the Premier League dream was not the longest:

– It was short. I arrived in January, and we also got relegated in May. It was one match, so it wasn’t very much experience. At the same time, it was a dream to play in the Premier League, and of course one would have wanted more playing time. You could feel the level, and quickly realized that I didn’t quite have that level in me. It will be with the one match in the Premier League.

Now he is part of a team that will soon be “fighting for the places” behind Bodø/Glimt and Molde. That is also Berget’s expectation for a new season.

– At maximum level, there is probably such a big difference that other teams will not be able to keep up. But you saw last year that they can make mistakes too, as Molde did, among other things. If they are not on, then it is “tight”, but you can see in the European matches of both teams that there are large troops and a gear that not many others in the league have.

– Which team will take the gold in 2024?

– I think Molde will win. I think they look really good, and have shown that they have a high top level. This winter, more class players have also come in, who will push them even further. It will be between Molde and Bodø/Glimt, but I think Molde is the best.

– Which player will be the player of the year?

– I hope that Magnus (Wolf Eikrem editor’s note) can play as many games as possible, so if he stays injury-free, I believe in Eikrem.

– Top scorer then?

– Then it quickly becomes Guldbrandsen. I’m putting all my eggs in one basket now, but if Molde is to win league gold, Fredrik must score a goal. I don’t quite know how to stand in Bodø now, considering the striker position.

– Finally, the breakthrough of the year?

– Sondre Ørjasæter. He will show a lot of good things this year. He has an x-factor that will excite many, and is a fun guy to watch. It can go up and down a bit, but we have to try to keep him up as often as possible.