In the build-up to this summer’s Women’s European Championship in Switzerland, the former Milan player Nadia Nadim had some harsh words to say about the team’s coaching staff.
The forward was loaned out to Hammarby in March and does not wish to return to the Rossonere in the near future. Shortly after she left on loan, Nadim gave an interview to Swedish journalist Amanda Zaza, where she touched upon the strained relations she had with Milan coach Suzanne Bakker.
In an interview with Aftonbladet (via Flashscore), Nadim states the falling out was over Bakker benching her, among many other things. She also went on to insinuate that this was due to the coach’s history of coaching young, inexperienced players, and not veterans like her.
“I have had coaches who have won titles throughout my career, so it was a shock for me to be introduced to her. I can honestly say that the training in the refugee camp was better.”
The Danish forward even went as far as to insinuate that she thought the Dutch coach had ‘an inferiority complex’. Nadim also went on to state that the coach knowingly made the same mistakes over and over again.
“[…] We have different expectations, then it’s going to be difficult. She probably hasn’t been used to working with real elite athletes; Just the academy players who ‘submit’ to her.”
She also went on to conclude that ‘we have bigger ambitions’. The ‘ambitions’ she speaks of most likely refers to the high expectations she had for herself and the club.
‘Surrounded by idiots’
Although Nadim has left Milan, she also admits that she’s still close to the team’s management and holds them in high regard.
In an interview with Danish outlet DR Sporten (via national broadcaster TV 2) she stated, “Milan is a big club, I’m pretty close to the board and like their ambitions.” Nadim was also once offered an Ibra-like role to be a consultant for the club’s women’s team.
However, that role will now be cut short. And in Nadim’s words, it’s because she “didn’t want to be surrounded by idiots.”
As it stands, the Dane’s future is currently up in the air. Right now, the forward is just focused on the present, as she is currently training with the Danish National Team in preparation for next month’s Women’s Euros.
Nadim also said that she initially considered retiring before the competition but decided to play one last tournament with De rød-hvide as she wanted to leave the national team on a ‘nice note.’ There will, however, be no such pleasantries with her less-than-amicable split from Milan.
