Newcastle United forward Anthony Elanga has refused to comment on reports he publicly called out Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tomasson’s system.
Aftonbladet cover comments from the Newcastle forward this week in which he’s asked about the apparent incident.
Tomasson was sacked by Sweden last month after a disastrous run of form left their World Cup qualification hopes in tatters. A loss at home to Kosovo was his final game in charge.
According to Radiosporten, the Newcastle forward was left unimpressed by the national team manager. Following that defeat against Kosovo, he allegedly had a sweary outburst in the player’s tunnel. That was related to the manager’s system and tactics.
He was reportedly ‘furious’ at the result and Sweden’s performance. But seemingly thought that the root of the issue was the system being employed by the manager.
The Newcastle United forward has now been asked about the incident. He, though, has presented as being totally blank memory-wise.
“I don’t remember. There were a lot of things that happened and we lost the match,” he said.
“But now we are here and we have a new national manager. It is important that we get the right conditions for how we are going to play against Switzerland.”
Newcastle United player now sitting on fence
He was then asked about the system under Tomasson and why he would have said “the system should go”. Again, he was vague about what had actually happened.
“I don’t think it was the system. We didn’t play that great,” he added.
“Now we have more opportunities to do better. First and foremost, we will try to win matches and get to the World Cup. I don’t remember if that’s what was said or if that’s what I said.
“A lot was said, there were a lot of people in the tunnel and a lot happened. But I’m focusing on what’s happening now.”
And he was also keen to insist that he wasn’t unhappy about the news getting out. In fact, he accepts that is part of the life of being a footballer.
“I’m a footballer so if I say something it will always get out. But the most important thing is if I say I said it,” he concluded.
Anthony Elanga has also spoken his Newcastle United doubters, and believes things will be better with consistent minutes.
That’s similar to what he said during the October international break, when the forward insisted: “When it clicks, it’ll bang.”