Denmark manager Brian Riemer warns Chelsea‘s Filip Jørgensen and West Ham United‘s Mads Hermansen of importance of regular game time next season.
Jørgensen received the senior call up in March 2025 and made his debut that June. The West Ham goalkeeper made it to the national team in March 2023. However, he waited until three months ago for his debut.
Both the Chelsea man and the 25-year-old played only two matches each for the national team.
Kasper Schmeichel has been the No.1 for his country for a long time. The 39-year-old had missed March’s fixtures due to an injury and recently announced his retirement. This allows the 24-year-old and the West Ham stopper to compete for Denmark’s No.1 spot.
The duo didn’t enjoy regular game time at Chelsea and Nuno Espírito Santo’s side this season. Jørgensen played 12 matches for the Blues, and his compatriot featured 19 times for West Ham.
In February, the Danish press urged Riemer to drop the two goalkeepers. He didn’t take this into consideration and the former Leicester City man started ahead of the Chelsea stopper in March.
West Ham player ahead of Chelsea man
Denmark face Ukraine in a friendly this weekend and Brian Riemer has confirmed Mads Hermansen will be in goal. Friday’s edition of Ekstra Bladet have relayed his comments.
The Chelsea goalkeeper started in the friendly draw against DR Congo earlier this week.
“I would of course have preferred we had gone from a goalkeeper with 120 international matches [Kasper Schmeichel] to a goalkeeper with 25 matches. Now the reality is that we have two goalkeepers, each with two international matches,” he said.
“Fortunately, we have two really good goalkeepers. Therefore, it would be wrong to just give the ‘hat’ to one at the moment.”
“Mads Hermansen will be playing against Ukraine on Sunday. I am looking forward to what they have to offer.”
The manager warns the duo to consider their club futures carefully as playing time will determine their place with the national team.
“The next few months will determine who will be playing in the future. But we could easily be in a situation in September where we have not chosen a first-choice goalkeeper,” Riemer explained.
“It is about where they will be and what their future is at club level. It may be that the performances they deliver at club level give me some answers that I need.”
“In any case, playing time is important. They both played a lot in the Premier League last season, but they were also out and they also each had their own injury history.”
Ideal to leave Chelsea and West Ham
Filip Jørgensen and Mads Hermansen are unlikely to enjoy regular game time at Chelsea and West Ham United respectively.
The former is attracting interest from Turkey, where Beşiktaş are keen. Hermansen could also leave the Hammers following their relegation from the Premier League.
Brian Riemer’s comments could encourage the duo to find a new club this summer where they can enjoy regular minutes.