Brentford’s Andreas Bjelland and Denmark manager Ade Hareide have been making bitter comments about each other after the defender did not make it into his World Cup squad.
Bjelland has been a regular for the Denmark national side for many years now, earning 28 caps. It seemed like he would be heading to Russia with the national side this summer for the World Cup as well. He was a key player in their qualification and had been named in their provisional squad.
But in a shock move, Bjelland ended up being cut from the squad. Many reasoned was that this was due to his fitness after suffering an Achilles problem at the end of the season which limited his time on the pitch with Brentford. But Bjelland has not taken being cut from the squad well, commenting on his loyalty to the squad over the last few years.
He said in a statement reported by Football London: “I am incredibly disappointed. I have to respect the coach’s decision, although I do not agree at all. I fully trained on Sunday and came through.
“I’m sorry for the situation I’ve come across when I thought I had a big role in this team and feel I’ve been a major part of the qualification and always been loyal to staff and players.”
But Hareide fired back, saying that Bjelland could not kick the ball with his left foot. He said: “He was in training in Stockholm and he could use the leg, but he could not kick far with his left leg, and it is very important.”
“He had played two and a half matches since March when I took him into the squad and if he had not been injured he would have been in the World Cup squad even though he had played so little. I have so much confidence in him.”
