Reacting to Solbakken’s statement: – Many people are really pissed off

– He can be a very good and stable centre-back, and he was today, but he has to change clubs. He can’t play half-right-back every third game if he’s going to be a proper, safe and good centre-back. Because he has all the prerequisites.

That’s what national team manager Ståle Solbakken said at the press conference after the victory over Italy.

Kristoffer Ajer received praise for his fight in midfield, and was assigned 9 on the NRK stock exchange.

The 27-year-old has become a fixture at the heart of the defense, but in the club’s everyday life the situation is different.

– I prefer to play centre-back. It’s incredibly fun to do it for the national team, so I hope to do it for the club too, Ajer tells NRK.

IN ACTION: Kristoffer Ajer against Marcus Rashford and Manchester United, in a match the Norwegian played in an unusual left-back position.

– Many people get angry with me

Many people get angry with me

At Brentford he has struggled with playing time. And the times he has played, it has mostly been as a right-back or on the right side as one of three centre-backs.

Ajer did not start any of Brentford’s last six Premier League matches in the 2024/25 season, according to the website Transfermarkt.

This meant that Ajer himself took action in May, and played a match for Brentford’s U23 team to get training as a centre-back.

– I think Ajer would have been better suited to playing centre-back in another league. He has had some tough injuries in England. He will never be a super right-back, at the same level he is as a centre-back. At the age he is now, I think he has the right to put his foot down. You can’t be a “cover” right-back at the age he is now, says Solbakken and continues:

– Many people get angry with me when I say things like that publicly, but I think we should be a little honest about it. Not that I should interfere with Brentford selling him, but he is at an age and is a type who can develop into a very stable and good stopper at a high level.

NATIONAL TEAM MANAGER: Ståle Solbakken has a lot to smile about these days.

– Personally, I love it

NRK’s football expert Kristoffer Løkberg agrees with the national team manager that Ajer should change clubs to become the best possible stopper.

– Now Brentford are probably very happy with Ajer. He is mobile and can be used in different positions. He is very reliable, so they probably won’t let him go easily.

NRK’s football expert: Kristoffer Løkberg.

– Ståle said that many people get angry with him when he says things like that in public. What do you think Brentford is thinking?

– Ståle said that many people get angry with him when he says things like that in public. What do you think Brentford is thinking?

– I’m guessing there are a lot of people who are really pissed off, quite simply. The sports director and the coach, among others. But Solbakken is in it. He has decided to go that route and is continuing with it. We’ll have to like it or not – personally I love it – to hear an honest Ståle Solbakken share his opinion about Norwegian national team players, says Løkberg.

He emphasizes that Solbakken’s job is to do what is best for the national team.

– He simply doesn’t care about other people’s interests. He probably gets some nasty text messages or annoying phone calls now and then, but I’m guessing he bounces off of it pretty easily.

Trur Ajer has considered changing clubs

– Towards this meeting, he has probably considered what he can do to get to a club where the defense is built around him. What happened here yesterday must have given it more flavor, says Løkberg.

For alongside partner Torbjørn Heggem, Ajer played his “definitely best international match” yesterday, according to NRK’s football expert.

Should he end up in a new league, there are several countries that could suit him well:

– He can fit into most leagues, such as Germany, Italy and France. He is good with the ball, has quite a lot of speed and is starting to get quite a good physique, after many years in the Premier League. He probably feels that there is even more in him. Then he may be forced to get away from the Premier League.

On Monday, Estonia awaits on the road in Norway’s next World Cup qualifier. Ajerigjen is expected to start then – as a centre-back.