Norwegian international team coach Stale Solbakken has initiated a war on words with newly appointed Benfica coach Jose Mourinho over the missing performances of Andreas Schjelderup
Andreas Schjelderup has become the center of a war of words between Jose Mourinho and Norwegian international team coach Stale Solbakken.
Mourinho has recently taken over the reins at Benfica, where Schjelderup rarely plays full-time.
"He struggles with it for over 90 minutes with the intensity and sacrificing himself in the transitions", says Mourinho to Portuguese media "A Bola."
This has since prompted Solbakken to tell NRK that it is a coach's responsibility to give Schjelderup the necessary chances so that he can become a player who can keep up with the team.
Mourinho was informed of Solbakken's comments in the lead-up to Benfica's crucial game on Sunday against FC Porto, and Mourinho chose to reply in the following way:
"The situation is simple, and I just think we have to look at it with ethics, then we will all agree. Most national coaches will be satisfied with the way I see the situation between club and national team players."
"When Benfica's players leave for the national team, I will not comment on that. The national coach is superb, and I hope everything goes well and they don't come back with injuries."
"However, I would appreciate it if national coaches stick to their own work when the players are back at the club. I don't understand how a national coach dares to comment on a player's relationship at a club."
"I am available to any national coach who wants to contact me, but I want to have respect when the player is part of the club and is not with the national team", says Mourinho, according to A Bola.
Schjelderup has been selected for the Norwegian national team squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifying match against Israel next Saturday.