While the rest of the team has struggled, Mathias Normann (25) is highlighted as a big bright spot. Connoisseurs of the club are overwhelmed with enthusiasm for what the Norwegian has added.
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– I’m so grateful we have him on the team. Without Mathias Normann, it would have been embarrassing for us this season, says Norwich supporter Chris Reeve to VG.
Together with his brother Jack Reeve, he runs the YouTube channel Talk Norwich City, which is the club’s largest fan channel.
After being named the team’s best player in September, the 25-year-old was once again named the pitch’s best in Saturday’s match against Brighton – his third best man award in four matches.
TV 2 commentator Kasper Wikestad is also a Norwich supporter and follows the club closely. He completely agrees that Normann has been the team’s best player without equal.
– They have no one else who is like him in the team. That’s why they were a little desperate before the start of the season. He is complete in that midfield, so maybe the rest of the team is missing a bit. He has simply been terribly good, says Wikestad.
The brothers behind Norwich’s fan channel refer to Normann as “the only bright spot” this season.
– He puts so much into the fights. You can see that he struggles to endure the whole fights because he literally goes in with his head first in everything he does. It is very refreshing. It is very clear that he wants to make a name for himself on that football’s biggest stage, says Chris Reeve.
Initially, Norwich were eager to extend with Tottenham coach Oliver Skipp, who was very good for the newly promoted club last season.
– I think they think they could not get a better replacement. He has all the qualities of Skipp plus a little more. I had no idea he had that right foot, but it’s incredibly nice. He has gone straight in and is the one who dictates the game to Norwich, says Wikestad.
– What has really surprised me is that he has enormous skills, loves to take the ball forward and is not afraid to shoot. In the Premier League, that is often what makes the difference, says Reeve.
– If it was up to me now, I would give him the captaincy. He has not been there long and is a loan player, but it is clear that he is raising the standard. He has been by far our best player this season, the Englishman continues.
Normann could have added one to the visitors’ lead if his free kick had gone just a little lower.
– It was a top class achievement, his attitude on the field is also great. “I think he was exceptional and I have only positive things to say about him,” Norwich manager Daniel Farke said after the match.
–Mathias Normann was not in the international matches against Turkey and Montenegro.
Farke states that due to an injection treatment, Normann did not train with Norwich until Wednesday, three days before the Brighton match.
– I wanted to have him on the field as long as possible because he was so dominant and so important to us, but when he got cramps in both legs I had to replace him.
–Lofotværingen is basically on loan with an option to buy out the season if Norwich holds its place. Should the club go down, it could still be the Premier League for the 25-year-old, Wikestad and Reeve predict.
The latter points out that in addition to being a dominant figure on the team, he also shows up with an X-factor. A clip where he tricks the ball in the air and follows up with a cheeky tunnel has gone viral on social media:
– It is something that attracts the attention of larger clubs. If he does not play in Norwich next season, I suspect it will be in another Premier League club, says Reeve.
– He will probably stay if he wants to. I feel very confident about that, says Wikestad.
Neither Mathias Normann nor his agent Imad El Hammichi have responded to VG’s inquiries.
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