Alexander Isak has not done any interviews with the media since his transfer to the reigning Premier League champion Liverpool was finalized at the beginning of September.
After around 20 minutes on the pitch as a substitute away against Kosovo, he met Swedish journalists in Pristina.
Nice that things were cleared up before the gathering. That I could focus on playing football again.
”Always learns”
How has it been mentally for you?
It has been a fairly new situation for me. But you always learn and develop mentally on the side of the pitch as well.
Isak came to the Swedish World Championship qualification gathering in Stockholm for just under a week ago – less than a day after becoming the Premier League's most expensive player ever. He was recruited by Liverpool from Newcastle for the equivalent of around 1.66 billion kronor after a long saga during the summer where the 25-year-old refused to train with his former club to get a transfer through.
It's between clubs. We players, we play football, says Isak about the record sum.
Many Newcastle supporters were angry with you. How do you view the reactions?
It's a bit like it is. Of course, not everyone has the full picture, but it's a discussion for another day. Right now, there's a disappointment over this match and how it's gone, says the 25-year-old.
Such things are part of football. I can't control everything that's said or written. I'm glad I became a Liverpool player. That's what I wanted and I'm really happy about it.
Isak actually wanted to talk most about the national team, but Blågult was a heavy topic after 0–2 in Pristina.
In such World Championship qualifications, you can't afford to start the match badly. It's a bit where we lose a bit. We start badly, he says about the match.
”Felt okay”
According to national team coach Jon Dahl Tomasson, 20 minutes was the maximum playing time for Isak.
It's hard to know exactly how many minutes are right. It became 20 minutes and it felt okay, says the striker himself.
He is asked if Liverpool had any opinion about playing time during the gathering. Against Slovenia on Friday (2–2) in the World Championship qualification premiere, Isak sat on the bench the entire match.
No, not that I know of. I'm here with the national team. Of course, clubs and national teams have contact and communication, but it's between them.
