NORRKÖPING.
Five points per Bohman from IFK Norrköping-AIK at Platinumcars Arena.
1. I understand that Grzelak has been allowed to go
During his time as coach of AIK I enjoyed Bartosz Gerzelak Shorter stints as the team seemed to have added a fluid and fluid offensive game to a very strong defensive side.
But there were no more promising glimpses, and often they seemed to rely more on attitude/energy or Jordan Larson’s character than any sustainable methodologies.
So Grzelak went deeper and deeper in search of a practical attack, only to find that the defensive foundation of AIK, the basis for the club’s potential to be a big team, was simultaneously disappearing from under his feet.
In the end, Grzelak and both AIK fell into a blackened Czech pit, but the players only got a chance to go up again.
Was it right to fire the beloved coach? For me, it all boils down to the following question: If the Grzelak AIK didn’t have a defense, what would they have?
Basically nothing, and then I can understand he had to go. He didn’t have the best squad, but he’s basically healthy, and Grzelak has been underperforming throughout the entire summer (performance, and somewhat in terms of results) with the player material he’s got.
2. Brave Goitom created a brave team
Henok Goitom narrowly reached a stationary table. He only received a little training to prepare the team. John Gedetti was completely relieved. Pushed to breaking point, Sebastian Larsson started off the bench.
But he was hoping for a “courageous team and great pressure” and gave his players the chance to be one. Goitom has dispatched a group of hilarious, fast-paced and aggressive players. Eleven starts full of action, fast feet and forward thinking. Yassine Al-Ayari and Bilal Hussein found each other, played comfortably outside pressure and in front of the duo the four attacking players + the full-back had high and bold starting positions.
It wasn’t unfair that match winner Yacine Ayari made it 1-0 early with a sharp Vincent Till corner kick.
3. AIK exploited Beijing’s weaknesses
Glenn Riddersholm sent Daniel Eid as a twisted left back and a foul. Otherwise, it was full of offensive Svenscan star names. Of course, Beijing wasn’t quite as mischievous. It would be unimaginable because the Dane saved the eleven attacks from AIK with a very offensive start.
Jacob Ortmark is the only semi-defensive force in the midfield and saw Arnor Trastasson, Arnor Sigurdsson, Laurent Chabani, Jonathan Levy and Christopher Niemann up front.
Healthy audacity, nothing wins. AIK rushed into the vast expanses in front of Norrköping’s back line. He was able, thanks to his sloping forward form, to repeatedly press him with the ball when Beijing was at its worst.
The result: quick combinations and a delicious finish for Nicholas Stefanelli to make it 2-0. A minute later, AIK won the ball again, Joe Mendes found Nabil El-Bahwi, who hit a powerful shot in the far cross.
Extraordinarily effective, sure, but the success was essentially the fruit of a business strategy.
Guttom was constantly energetic, and he called on young Abdul Rahman Ahmed in the first half to guide him in a game of pressure, making sure Hussain controlled the rhythm correctly. He seemed to have the full confidence of the players, and that’s not just because he’s their old teammate, but because they respect his proven footballing knowledge.
4. Primal Strength Sigurdsson and Selfish Thill
Vincent Till saved the tension in the match with one of the most stupid, selfish actions in the Allsvenskan this year. Indulge your new acquisition – because it’s one omen – to surrender to his frustration in connection with a duel against Arnor Sigurdsson. Thiel threw himself into the opponent’s stomach with Zidane’s skull, and, of course, blushed.
The interesting thing?
The fact that AIK has been very confident on the ball in periods despite being a drop man. At the start of the half, Gnaget was quieter and more elegant passing with nine players off the field compared to ten during large periods of summer.
AIK defended itself bravely and dominated for a long time, but IFK Norrköping of course got a bunch of great chances. Post hits, bars, and open positions. It’s not uncommon for him to go through excessively long positions behind junior Eric Otieno who ends up in constant trouble. In the end he broke for AIK and trimmed the home team twice. Urkraften Sigurdsson (excellent) wanted more of everything and forced at 1-3. When AIK went down to nine men (after hitting Collins Sichenje), Maic Sema finally managed to score 2-3.
5. Witty, Goitom
It is not uncommon for the board of directors and the sports administration to be inundated with nonsense regarding the firing of a coach. They take the “easy way” and abdicate their responsibility. After this match, it is difficult to direct this criticism to the ruling circle within AIK.
It was not only the score against Slovacko that was not sustainable, but also the effort and attitude. gnat had the worst performance of the year in the most important game of the season so far. The bond between Grzelak and the players is destroyed. The team looked like a helpless gray mass.
Management needed to act and it was done immediately. They clearly have the appropriate alternative in place. Guytom’s early efforts as an AIK coach can only be described as prowess.
Maybe it’s heartless to write but… In the first half, Henok Goitom earned an offensive level in an AIK that Bartosz Grzelak hasn’t solved more than a few times in his over two years as a coach.
Above all, he recreated the crucial solidarity between the players that was tragically absent in the Czech Republic. There everyone played for themselves, here AIK played for each other. Mikael Lustig showed the stubborn spirit in the last minute. The veteran himself headed into the final corner of the match, scoring the max in the 97th minute and making sure Eric Otieno could dash 4-2 into an open goal. Lustig accepted the salutation his comrades deserved, and Guytum wept with joy.
