Sweden head coach Janne Andersson stormed out of an interview with former Manchester United midfielder Bojan Djordjic following a close-to-the-bone row between the pair after his side’s 5-0 win over Azerbaijan.
Anthony Elanga got on the scoresheet as Sweden bounced back from Friday’s 3-0 defeat to Belgium to record their first win of the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign. After the game, Andersson, who has been at the helm since 2016, got into a verbal spat with pundit Djordjic live on Viaplay.
Djordjic, who signed for United as a youngster in 1999 and played twice under Sir Alex Ferguson, questioned why goalscorer Jesper Karlsson was used for just eight minutes across both matches.
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Andersson took issue with his query, replying: "We can discuss the choice of players all damn night, excuse me. Who shouldn't play? I get to pick the eleven, who won't play?
"Excuse me, but you can do exactly what you want if you are the national team coach." He explained how Karlsson’s inclusion would have meant dropping Alexander Isak of Newcastle or Viktor Gyokeres of Coventry.
Andersson said Djordjic - who was born in Belgrade but represented Sweden at youth level - was “whining” before saying: "Who do you represent?"
Djordjic hit back: "Sweden, of course, why wouldn't I? What kind of thing is this then? Are you going to say something else?"
Waving his arms, Andersson replied: "It is so bad. You stand and talk c**p after a game when we win 5-0."
Djordjic continued to press Andersson on his previous question, adding: "You're talking too much right now, you are being too aggressive. Why? Who else would I represent? What other country? Serbia, did you mean it or not? Is that what you're trying to say?
"I represent you as much as anyone else. I will not forget this answer, it's bad. It's pretty low for a national team coach to say what you just said. Who do you represent?"
When presenter Niklas Jihde tried asking him if he was satisfied with the 5-0 win, Andersson rebuffed: "I am not satisfied with anything, it's bulls***. If I come here and lose 3-0, then I would understand. Then I have to be defensive.
"If we've won 5-0, should I be defensive? There are four of you and you will confront me with questions. Damn, that's bad."
Andersson continued his rant in his press conference when asked about the on-air altercation with Djordjic. "I don't know what I said,” he claimed. “Don't talk about Serbia and stuff like that. I can't stand that kind of s***.
"I speak to him as a media representative. I may have expressed myself badly. If I said something bad, I can take responsibility and apologise for it. Don't mix that up, then I get p***** off."
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