The wind is blowing hard around Kniksens Plass following another disappointing result for Brann. After a 2-0 defeat to bottom side Start, daily leader Christian Kalvenes and sporting director Per-Ove Ludvigsen have openly engaged in self-criticism about the club's situation.

  • The wind is blowing strong here now, Per-Ove Ludvigsen told TV 2 after the match.

Brann currently sit eighth in Eliteserien with 26 points from 20 games, a full 24 points behind leaders Bodø/Glimt. The loss to Start was the team's tenth in the league this season, and their second in a row following a 1-2 defeat to Lillestrøm last weekend. Ousmane Diallo Toure and Jesper Cornelius scored for Start. The team's poor form is evident in their goal difference of minus 2, and they have won only 2 of their last 10 league matches.

Kalvenes takes responsibility

Christian Kalvenes admits the pressure is palpable after the poor league start.

  • It's clear you feel it extra in your body, said Kalvenes., it is my responsibility. I am the one responsible for the daily operations of the club. We probably haven't been good enough in any of these areas.

He stresses that everyone at the club makes both good and bad decisions, and that it feels like expectations have not been met, including in player logistics. When asked if financial constraints have been a limitation, he replies that he does not experience it that way.

Ludvigsen on tough times

Sporting director Per-Ove Ludvigsen dismisses any notion he is relaxed about the development.

  • I am not laid back about this at all. This means a lot to me, for the club and for the fans. No one should be worried that we are not taking this seriously. Now it is heavy times and seriousness.

Asked if the club has been too poor at carrying momentum from the good years with silver medals in 2023 and 2024, he concedes.

  • Yes, that may well be. Right now there is no point in trying to make any excuses, because it's not very good. The way it looks now, it has not been good enough.

Ludvigsen still hopes the squad can look better and at least from January, so they can match the best. He won't stand and praise himself, adding that it's clear that today, specifically, it doesn't look so good.

Horneland on the challenge

Manager Eirik Horneland also spoke with TV 2 after the loss. He described that what the team had positioned itself to build upon has slipped a bit out of their hands.

  • Of course they are. They have been part of the entire upswing, Horneland said of the leadership., We have produced six senior national team players here, there has been positive player development, positive team development and positive results development. We have had one year where the results in the league have been too weak. Now we have to get back on track.

Brann sold key players for over 200 million kroner in recent months and presented a surplus this winter. Yet sporting results have not followed. After taking silver two years running and qualifying for the Europa League group stage last year, the team is now nine points off fourth place. The season's goal is a top-four finish, but at the current rate they are on track to achieve far below expectations.

The next challenge is a home match against league leaders Bodø/Glimt on Sunday. In the previous meeting between the sides in May, Brann lost 3-1 away. Kalvenes emphasises that he and everyone working at Brann question themselves every day about whether they are the right person for the job.

  • Until we are not, we do our very, very best, he said.

Fans wanting to follow the team's path to better times can check the full fixtures list and see how the standings look. Brann host Bodø/Glimt at Brann Stadion on Sunday 20 September.

Read the full report at TV 2