A little over a day after Henrik Rydström was fired, Malmö FF players met the media.
Everyone has a responsibility. I certainly felt that too. I've been through it before, but it's something that's never fun to be a part of, says team captain Anders Christiansen at a press conference.
It was a bad taste in my mouth, says the Dane about how he reacted when the message came.
”It was needed”
If it were up to you - would Henrik Rydström still be coaching Malmö FF today?
Yes, says Anders Christiansen, who has played for MFF for almost ten years.
Defender Pontus Jansson, who is team captain when Christiansen can't play, gives a different answer to the same question.
I back Malmö's decision one hundred percent. Even if you were to ask "Henke", he understands in the end. We reached a dead end, something new was needed, says Jansson.
At the same time, Jansson took the board's decision to fire Henrik Rydström "hard".
It's sad, he says and continues:
One has to look back on the good times we had together. I and "Henke" have had a relationship even before MFF.
Rydström took over before the 2023 season and won two Swedish Championships and one cup gold, as well as leading the team to two Europa League group stages.
”Was unique”
I think we've played a lot of good football during my time (in the club), but the first six months of 2023 are probably the best football I've played and seen a team play in Allsvenskan. It set the bar and there we did something I think was unique, which was outstanding and incredibly fun to be a part of, says Christiansen.
Rydström's last match as MFF coach was Wednesday's 1-2 loss at home to Ludogorets in the Europa League premiere.
Now there are no more excuses. Now that the coach has left, if we continue to crap, it's our fault, says Christiansen.
Now you have to look at yourself in the mirror and start delivering, says Pontus Jansson.
Meet Värnamo
The reigning champion team is sixth in the Allsvenskan table and is 18 points behind league leader Mjällby with six matches left to play. Up to AIK in third place - the last European spot - it's four points. On Sunday, bottom team Värnamo comes to the stadium in Malmö.
MFF is now chasing a permanent solution, but Anes Mravac has taken over as temporary head coach. Mravac was hired by the club at the beginning of the year and has since coached the cooperation club BK Olympic in division 1.
