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The talent remained on the bench: "Great competition"

Hugo Larsson continues to be benched by the new national team captain Jon Dahl Tomasson. Now Tomasson explains why. If you only play sideways, you don't become dangerous, he says to Viaplay.

» Updated: September 22 2024

» Published: September 05 2024

The talent remained on the bench: "Great competition"
Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/TT

Hugo Larsson is one of Swedish football's greatest talents, and is a given in his club team Eintracht Frankfurt in Bundesliga.

Earlier in the week, Aftonbladet wrote that several clubs in Premier League wanted to recruit the 20-year-old this summer, but that the German club has rejected everything and instead wants to extend his contract.

Despite this, he does not get to start in the national team. Against Azerbaijan, the midfielder remained on the bench throughout the match, and since Tomasson took over, Larsson has not started a single match.

First and foremost, in June he got 45 minutes twice, and I think that's pretty good for a 20-year-old, says Tomasson in Viaplay and continues:

There is great competition. We have several young players with great potential. Hugo is one of them. We also have Ayari, Nanasi and Bergvall today. It's four players who can come to mean a lot for the future of Swedish football.

But before it becomes relevant with a start for the midfield talent, it requires that he works on his offensive qualities.

What I've told Hugo, who clearly wants to play, is that I've watched all his matches this season, even the preseason. I want more vertical passes. Especially against opponents who stand deep.

Playing too much sideways doesn't make you dangerous.

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By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

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