Exclusive interview with Henrik Larsson, here on talkceltic!

Hello Bhoys and Ghirls, I'm the editor of a Celtic's biggest fan site in Sweden. It's a non profit work, and we write because of our love to Celtic. We write in our spare time, as any other fan sites.

On new years eve, one of our writers (we are currently five) managed to phone Henrik Larsson and interview him. It was a very interesting interview about Celtic; team and management, Old Firm, Ljungberg, Scottish League standard, best Celtic player in the team, etcetera.

I have translated it for you: It took a long time, so have your best indulgence with the text. Enjoy!



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Questions from us, and answers from Henrik Larsson:

Celtics current season, if you've followed the team, what do you say?

Yes, I follow them, especially now when Lennon and Johan are there. I have to say it's been OK. You have to be aware that it's Lennons first big job. It's always tough to manage Celtic, with all those expectations. But I think they have done a good job.


What do you say about Rangers?

They have had economic problems, but they still play well
I only follow Celtic. But I have seen them in Europe, they seem solid. They seem to have a good shape.


What team is strongest, Celtic or Rangers?

Celtic, they always are.

Some say that Lennon isn't the right man for Celtic, that he wont be able to bring titles to us. What do you think?

I think Lenny is the right man, with all his experience. He knows what it takes. And football is about money, and quality. You'll have to have money to win titles, if you don't – it will be difficult.


Ljungberg is now in the team, what do you think he can contribute with?

I think he can contribute what he's good on. And that's to run and make it difficult for opponents. And he has great strength. But he should do what he's good on.

Is his age a problem?

It's only in Sweden that you focus so much on age, and if he would been in Sweden now, he would probably quit his career. As a player, you can continue to play football when your over thirty so I don't think it will be any problem.

Should we buy more players in January?

You shouldn't buy in panic, you must have an idea. And your economic situation is obviously a factor to weigh in.

Any typical player type we should look for?

I don't think you should focus to much on one sort of players. It will be enough to buy a good player. It could be a defender, a midfielder, It doesn't matter really. You should build a constant team, with good players and some top players.

What do you think about the signings? Any special good or bad player?

It takes a lot to succeed with your team. But I think they have played OK, I was over and watched the Aberdeen game, which finished 9-0 I think, and that was a great performance. Otherwise I think the strikes have done well.

Best Celtic player?

Shuan Maloney. He has a good eye for the game, he can score and he can assist. I have played with him and I know how he is, he's easy to play with. I trained with him (before the aberdeen game), and that was funny.

Many Celtic supporters have McCourt as their favorite.

Yes, but for me, it's Shuan.

Now Old Firm. You have played many, can you put words on how huge this game really is?

No, I can't describe. You have to played it or been there (as a supporter), to understand. You can't hear each other, and all the attention. It's also important to have bragging rights.

And if you compare it to El Clasico?

Then, Old firm is much bigger.

If you look at the up coming Old firm. Rangers have a chance to pull away in the table, if they win do they have a great opportunity to win the league?

Usually it isn't the Old Firm games who decides the league, it's all those other games. You don't need any motivation in Old Firm, it will run to you automatically. It's how you deal with the other games, what will decide.

Celtic key players in the game?

A good goalkeeper and a striker who has a good day. I hope that Fredrik will contribute with new energy in the team.

What do you think about the Scottish league and its quality? Some say that, except Celtic and Rangers, the teams have allsvenskan (swedish premier division) standard. What do you say about that?

I think the Scottish team would do well in allsvenskan, because allsvenskan is not that good. Obviously, Celtic and Rangers are massive. But then you ask, what team doesn't involve two teams race? It's all about Real and Barca in Spain, in England you talk about top four, but really its only Man Utd or Chelsea who win the league. There's barely no league that this isn't the fact. I have heard about this so long for now, I don't really manage to defend it more. I had hope that these kind of preconceptions would disappear when me and Johan played there.

Do you think the league has deteriorate?

It has. It's still a good league, but it has decreased because of the economy.

Hearts is third, only three points behind Celtic. Do you think they can challenge Celtic and Rangers? Now or later on?

I haven't followed Hearts. But if it isn't Hearts, it's Hibs, Kilmarnock or Aberdeen. It has been that for long time. I have heard about this since I joined the club 97, when Hearts where fought in the top. But, Celtic and Rangers have such a great advantage, I don't think they can challenge economically.

There have been plans to decrease SPL to 10 teams. What do you think?

I don't think they should decrease the league. How often should you play against each other then? I don't believe in that. You shouldn't change to much, it would be stagily.

There have been talks about the referees, what do you say about that?

We have a lot of modern technology and we have to start using that. The referees can't see everything. You shouldn't expect them to so all. It's impossible. You should instead try to test five referees, as you have done in Champions League. You can't only fault referees.

Do you have plans, to one day coach Celtic?

I will always be connected to that job, with my history. But I don't have any thought about it at the moment, I concentrate on my own job.

Finally, how will the game tomorrow end?

I have never tipped, because of pure superstition, and I'm not gonna do that now either.

 

Excellent read mate

Cheers

 

class, thanks for posting that, very interesting read

 

quality

 

Brilliant,All hail King Henrik!!!^I met him still best thing ever to happen!

 

Thanks Sebelon. Always nice to hear from the King of Kings.

 

Insightful. Hope he builds on his management experience on the continent and eventually comes and manages celtic in the future.

 

thanks for that mate King of Kings

 

the king

 

I enjoyed that,great stuff,thanks

 

thank you so much buddy thats a grest read

 

Nice one Sebelon. Tack.

 

pictures or it didnt happen...............

 

always nice to hear from an intelligent superstar, some of our players could learn a lot from him. He did his talking on the pitch and not spouting off to papers and making himself look silly in the process.

 

Good read!!!!!

 

Cheers for that

 

loved it!!

 

nice one

 

Always great to hear from Henrik.

Cheers Seb.

 

cheers amigo