– I feel we are on the right track. They are good at what they do. They have been at it for many years. But in the second half there is little that separates us in the court game. I think we are better there. But it doesn’t help if we are not good enough in the opponent’s box, says Sæter to VG.
– So this was far from a kind of reality orientation for Rosenborg?
– Yes. Glimpses are good, but we are not as far away as the result suggests.
Although a very upset Kjetil Knutsen stole some of the attention after Saturday’s big game between the two clubs, it was also about how close Rosenborg is to the top of Norwegian football as of today.
Trønder’s entrance to the match was characterized by optimism after three victories which had ensured the club’s best league start in seven years.
Because after a completely black 2023, the tone has now changed in Trondheim. The Rosenborg players have been asked whether they are both gold and medal candidates in 2024.
– We would have been bipolarAccording to Norsk Helseinformatikk, bipolar disorder is a disease that causes periods of varying degrees of elation (mania) and periods of depression, often with long and good periods in between. the whole gang if we were to relate to what experts and commentators say. I feel we have our feet planted on the ground, says Sæter.
– Four weeks ago we answered questions about whether we were going to be relegated. Now we answer whether we go for gold. Others can assess that. Things are boiling around Rosenborg. We just have to make sure that we take the biggest possible step, says Erlend Dahl Reitan.
But Bodø/Glimt was the first proper testRosenborg has beaten Sandefjord, HamKam and Haugesund. Trønder had only lost against Strømsgodset before the game against Glimt. against a top team this season. The question then is how coach Alfred Johansson’s men fared.
- The statistics show that possession was equal.
- But Rosenborg registered only one big chance, according to the statistics service sofascore.com, out of a total of eight finishes, two of which were on target.
- Bodø/Glimt had in reality decided the match in the 50th minute. By then, the guests from the north already led 3-0.
- In the Glimt camp, Patrick Berg stated that the series leaders were nowhere near their best level. Ulrik Saltnes replied “no, not really” when VG wondered if Rosenborg-Bodø/Glimt felt like a top match.
Nevertheless, Rosenborg’s midfield anchor Ole Selnæs is clear that it was an even match and that Rosenborg actually controlled a lot.
– It feels incredible that it is 3-0 at any time. It is not a result that reflects the match at all. But what to do. You just have to work at it. We push them properly after 3-1. Then we are too inefficient.
– But how far up does it feel up to Glimt?
– After today’s match, it doesn’t feel far at all. But we must become more lethal, says Selnæs.
Ole Sæter took his share of responsibility for the fact that there were so few chances for Rosenborg on their own turf.
– I feel I have a tendency to fall out of a match like this. I’ll have to look into that. It is natural that there will be a little less to do. It’s a situation I need to handle better. I will learn a lot from a match like that.
– But it is clear, it is not enough to have two shots on goal. We have a lot to go on there. I’m growing more and more into the system. It is an unusual role. I’m happy to drop down and be on the ball. It is an upheaval. But all in all very positive.
– What do you think about the fact that you have so few shots on target?
– It’s too bad of me. I need to get to more chances. I will take a lot of blame on myself. I am the top striker, must create the most, smell the chances that arise. There were few of them, but it’s about being there, that’s my role. So I’ll go home, practice and see on video what I can do better.
Neither coach Johansson nor Sæter wanted to add much to the incident that led to 2-0. TV 2 commentator Øyvind Alsaker believes Selnæs’ passing error in the 35th minute may have ruined Glimt.
– That is part of it. Ole quickly gets up. He is extremely good. The way we play, this is part of it. It’s a risk we take. But it could just as well have happened to Patrick Berg, says Sæter.
– Mistakes are part of football. I put it away and rather focus on what we are going to do after that, says Johansson.
