Eirik Horneland used Thursday's members' meeting to address the heavy atmosphere surrounding Brann. The manager described the communication around the club as toxic during a period where the team has failed to win in four attempts in the Eliteserien.

The Glimt challenge

Brann face league leaders Bodø/Glimt at Aspmyra on Sunday at 19:15, a side that has carried confidence since their silver medal in 2019. Horneland stressed that he and the players are incredibly excited to play Bodø at the stadium. He noted that meetings with Glimt usually lead to offensive matches between two teams eager to challenge each other.

  • There is a toxic communication around Brann these days, Horneland said.

The manager added that a lot of frustration comes out when a club with a large supporter base does not deliver the performances it should. Brann currently sit eighth in the Eliteserien with 26 points from 20 games. They lost 2-0 to Start last weekend and have only one win in their last five league rounds. The team's standings show a gap of 24 points to Sunday's opponents.

Soltvedt on heavy shoulders

Veteran Joachim Soltvedt shared the coach's concerns and spoke openly about psychological challenges in the dressing room. He said many people have strong opinions about the team when things go poorly, leading to negativity. Soltvedt explained that the team is in a rut and thinks too much when they play.

  • We have shoulders that are a bit too high, Soltvedt said., It's a good mix of high shoulders and not feeling like we are expressing what we are good at.

The midfielder emphasised how much it means to regain flow in their play, and that everything can turn around very quickly in football. He believes that if you get that flow, suddenly everyone looks like better players. Brann's only win in recent weeks came in extra time against a third-division side following a mistaken penalty.

Injury issues and goals

Brann enter the top match with several absentees. According to the club's injuries overview, Kjartan Mar Kjartansson, Sakarias Opsahl and Sævar Atli Magnússon are currently sidelined. The team's top scorer this season is Niklas Holm with six goals in 19 appearances. In total, Brann have scored 37 goals and conceded 31 in 20 league rounds.

The last meeting between the sides ended in a 3-1 victory for Bodø/Glimt away in May. Brann's fixtures show this is a key match to break the negative trend and generate new energy. Horneland concluded by saying the team always looks forward to meeting Glimt, as it leads to offensive football matches. The game is played on Sunday 20 September.

Read the full report at TV 2