European Championship player Jenny Danielson, 27, left AIK under notable circumstances.
Now she talks about the breakup and accuses coach Jesper Bjork of ostracism.
– This is answered by her.
AIK is the last in the women’s league with 15 out of 26 rounds played and before the fall the club made major changes to the team.
most popular? Team captain Hannah Davison and EC player Jenny Danielson both left.
The news struck like a thunderbolt out of the blue that day, but now Danielson offers his version of what happened.
The 27-year-old believes she was treated unfairly by coach duo Jesper Bjork and Nebojsa Novakovic, who took over last spring when Maigo Rutsalainen was fired.
– My time at AIK changed a lot after the coach change, she says.
‘completely broken’
Danielson does not hide that she liked the former crew, which consisted of fellow countrymen Athletic Director Ann Makinen and coach Maigo Rutsalainen, as well as assistant coach Scott Swinston.
– But when the two new coaches (Björk and Novakovic) and the sporting director (Herish Sade) came along, I gave them an honest chance. I said I would do my best to help them, but I also want them to show respect for us as players because it’s hard to lose your coaches like you had two years ago. But after a while, I started feeling disrespected and not getting the attention I deserved, Danielson says.
She missed a number of matches due to injury issues, but once she was healthy, she saw little time playing.
why? She doesn’t know that.
– I’ve talked to Jesper a few times and he just said I have to show I deserve a place in the eleven. I bought this justification at first, especially since there were new coaches and then everyone should have the same chance to compete, it’s just ‘fair play’. But then, as soon as I performed and still sat on the bench, of course I started to wonder what was going on.
How could that be?
– I wonder that too.
Did you ask Jesper directly?
– Yes, but he only said that I should do better to begin with. Then the communication completely collapsed.
Did you feel that there was something personal about you on his part?
In retrospect, I feel it must have been personal, because there was no reason to seat me several games in a row, says Jenny Danielson.
She is now ready for the Scottish Rangers and is currently in a training camp in Spain.
– I feel like it’s a good step in my career. At the same time, I definitely hope AIK can stay in the women’s league.
“nothing personal”
AIK coach Jesper Bjork has spoken out against the criticism and believes Jenny Danielson has not been treated unfairly at all.
– This is up to her. Nothing personal to me in this business, he says.
According to Björk, there were other, non-sporting reasons for Danielson’s seat.
At AIK, we have a code of conduct and efforts that we adhere to. Based on this line, you may not be allowed to play no matter how good you are at soccer.
Did you crack this code?
– I won’t go into details, but you can probably read between the lines that there are parts of it that you haven’t met.
What?
Like I said, I won’t go into details. It’s hard to talk openly in the media about the things that happen within the team. I don’t think you do that either on the men’s team at Best Football or anywhere else for that matter. We can land there, and then you can make headlines if you like.
I think there are AIK fans who want to know, too. Is the EC player still left under a noticeable level?
– That’s how it is. She is definitely a good player.
But you don’t want to say what happened?
– number. It is not for me to sit and comment on what happened and did not happen, and what was said and not said. He should be allowed to stay with the parties involved.
margin: Jenny Danielson read Jesper Björk’s answer but did not provide any further comment.