
'Football is everything and nothing'
In a wide-ranging chat with BBC Radio 5 Live's Rick Edwards alongside club psychologist Michael Caulfield, Thomas Frank has opened up on how he deals with the pressure's of elite football management."For me, football is everything and nothing," he said. "I'm devastated after we lose, I'm irritated and every single fibre in my body hurts after the game because I'm irritated in different ways."But, on the flip side coming in on a Monday there's hope again. I'm working with good people and I believe and dream again and go one more time."I know what's the most important thing for me - family and friends."Caulfield has been at the club since 2016, around the same time Frank arrived as assistant head coach, and believes the relationship between the two has developed naturally over time."When you're in this it's not friendships at the minute because we're too busy, too committed," he said."And we are genuinely committed to what we are trying to do. A lot of trust has been developed and it hasn't been through force."You've got this Danish person and British person who had never met before and eight years later something has happened. I don't want to overthink it because like any good relationship it just happens."I know when to talk to Thomas and vice versa and when to leave him alone. We've worked out a way of handling each other because football is so totally irrational and completely emotional."There's a lot of trust, a lot of empathy, a lot of understanding. I like to think one skill I do have is to know when to shut up and leave a room."Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Celtic tick all the boxes for Benjamin Nygren as Sweden star outlines exactly what he wants at next club
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BENJAMIN NYGREN craves a big club with a huge support who fill a noisy stadium every week. He wants to fight for trophies, play under pressure and get a crack at Champions League football. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 4 Benjamin Nygren speaking to WTV in Sweden Credit: WTV 4 He addressed his future in football 4 He's closing in on a move to Celtic Credit: Alamy If only there was a club out there that could offer him all of that Nygren didn't name Celtic as he spoke candidly about his ideal next step just two weeks ago. But the Sweden star couldn't have dropped any bigger hints that the Hoops are the perfect club for him. SunSport has unearthed a YouTube interview where Nygren outlined his wishes as he prepares to quit Nordsjaelland. The 23-year-old would have been aware that Celtic were watching him closely as he talked on a Swedish channel. And it appears the Hoops will tick every single box as he closes in on a £2million move to Parkhead. Asked why he is ready to move on, Nygren said: 'I want to go to a bigger club. 'I want to play in the Champions League and I want to get as far as possible in my career. 'We have been in agreement for some time about me leaving in this window. I feel it's time. 'I want to go to a club that has extreme belief in me and has a clear plan for me. The diggers move in as Celtic Park pitch is dug up 'But also a big club that plays in the best tournaments in Europe. 'At club level, the Champions League is the biggest competition you can play in. 'Nordsjaelland is a very family-orientated club and it can be quiet in the stands. 'That is good in a way maybe but I think it's a lot of fun when there are a lot of fans. 'It's more fun to play when it's a full stadium, where there are a lot of supporters and there is a lot of pressure. 'That is what I like the most.' Nygren has been a revelation in Danish football for the last two years and is now a full Sweden cap. He scored 16 goals for the Superliga side last season and already has two in just four appearaneces for the national team. But he believes there is even more to come from him and wants to play under a manager who truly believes in him. Benjamin Nygren's career 2013 (youth level) - 2019: IFK Goteborg - 15 games (six goals, five assists) 2019 - 2022: Genk - seven games (one goal) 2020 - 2022: Heerenveen (loan) - 51 games (seven goals, six assists) 2022 --: Nordsjaelland - 107 games (35 goals, eight assists) Celtic gaffer Brendan Rodgers has a track record for developing players in his attacking midfield position. Tom Rogic, Stuart Armstrong, Ryan Christie and Matt O'Riley all blossomed under his guidance at Parkhead. Nygren could be the next to work with Rodgers and the versatile playmaker has vowed to keep working at his game. He said: 'Being able to play in different positions is a strength for me. 'I know that I can contribute a lot to teams and also help make people get the best out of their own qualities. 'I believe in my abilities and I think I am good at creating chances and finishing when I get them myself.' Nygren will always be grateful to Nordsjaelland for the way they helped revive his career after a £4m move to Genk in 2019 didn't work. The Danish side offered him a platform to show his qualities again after being tipped as Sweden's next big thing as a kid. Nygren has taken that chance and also given a lot back to Nordsjaelland, and captained the team last season. Yet he admits he has now outgrown the club, who focus on developing talent as opposed to winning trophies. He said: 'I would definitely say it's a good environment to develop. 4 'We have a lot of young players. 'Generally, in the last ten games of the season, we had three or four 18-year-olds in the starting line-up. 'That's not very common so it's a platform to learn and develop. 'This is a club that has a lot of eyes on it, but which also maintains a very high level and is a top-five club in Denmark in principle every year. 'Nordsjaelland's highest goal is not to win the league, but to play with young talents to sell. 'It is a selling club and it becomes difficult to compete for the titles when you sell your best players all the time. 'But that doesn't affect my motivation. Wherever I play, even if nobody is watching, I want to win.' Nygren also has an eye on next summer's World Cup after recently breaking into the Sweden squad. Jon Dahl Tomasson's side face Switzerland, Kosovo and Slovenia in their qualifying group and are favourites to progress. Nygren is desperate to stay in his national squad and playing at a high level in Europe for Celtic would boost his chances. Speaking to Wenstrom Television, he said: 'The World Cup is the biggest thing there is. 'It is one of my highest goals to get there during my career. 'It was extremely fun to get into the Sweden squad and score my first goal. 'That is something I have been dreaming about for a long time. 'I have fought very hard each day to reach that level in my career. 'I felt I was getting closer and closer, and it fun to be called up and play for the national team. 'To make my debut and starting debut and score my first goal was a dream.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page


ITV News
3 hours ago
- ITV News
Kenny Logan leads celebrity team on 555-mile Ireland cycle in memory of Doddie Weir
A team of celebrities and rugby players are preparing for a 555-mile cycle challenge around the island of Ireland to raise funds for research into motor neurone disease (MND) in memory of the late Doddie Weir. Weir died of MND aged 52 in November 2022, after years of campaigning to raise awareness of the condition and funds into research. Scottish rugby legend Kenny Logan and his television presenter wife Gabby are among those preparing to take part in Doddie'5 Lions Challenge, cycling around 100 miles a day for six days, departing from Belfast on Sunday. The team will cycle through counties including Galway, Limerick and Cork, to arrive in Dublin on June 20 and deliver the match ball to the Aviva Stadium for the British and Irish Lions' 1888 Cup clash with Argentina. Some participants have had to pull out due to injury, including Weir's son Hamish, who will instead drive a support vehicle, while Scotland rugby stars Bryan Redpath and Hugo Southwell, and ex-Lions and Ireland international Rob Henderson, will also no longer be able to take part. Football legend Ally McCoist, actor Jamie Bamber, former Harlequins player Mel Deane, and cancer campaigner Iain Ward will all take part alongside the Logans. The challenge has raised more than £300,000 for My Name'5 Doddie Foundation and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association so far, with hopes of reaching £500,000 before Sunday. Kenny Logan will lead the team, and he has been doing intensive hill sessions on an exercise bike twice a week ahead of his second endurance fundraiser for MND research. He joined the Edinburgh to Paris cycle in 2023 which raised almost £1 million. He said: 'We've lost a few to injury, and it just shows how demanding this is going to be. I've had my own aches and pains. No major injuries thankfully but I've definitely been reminded why I probably shouldn't be moving this much at my age. 'I'm most nervous about the hills. I convinced myself Ireland was flat – it's definitely not. But nerves are good. I've always had them before a big challenge. 'The support's been incredible. We've still got time to push, and every penny counts. 'Since Doddie died, awareness has grown massively – but we still need to fund research. The foundation has committed nearly £20 million already, which is phenomenal, but it's only the beginning. 'Doddie would be proud – but he'd be telling us to go further and faster. That's why we're doing this.' He joked that McCoist needed some help with bike maintenance. Logan said: 'Ally's been out and about, but his bike broke down the other day. I told him not to trust himself to check the batteries on his fancy gears – someone else needs to do that for him.'


Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Ally McCoist sets off on gruelling charity ride around Ireland despite his bike BREAKING DOWN just days before
He's been joined by a few other famous faces on the six-day cycle GEARING UP Ally McCoist sets off on gruelling charity ride around Ireland despite his bike BREAKING DOWN just days before Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ALLY McCOIST is back in the saddle for his latest charity cycle event – but only after dealing with a few worrying mechanical issues first! The Scotland and Rangers icon headed off from Belfast this morning to take on the 555-mile, six-day ride around Ireland as part of the Doddie'5 Lions Challenge. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 5 Ally McCoist is taking part in the charity cycle around Ireland 5 But he had to deal with a few mechanical issues before he set off 5 And the group are doing it to help raise funds in memory of Doddie Weir Joining McCoist in the fundraising effort are Scotland rugby great Kenny Logan, his wife and broadcaster, Gabby, former rugby stars Mel Deane and Will Greene and actor Jamie Bamber. The group will cover up to 100 miles a day in memory of Scotland legend Doddie Weir, who sadly passed away in 2022, and to raise money for research into motor neurone disease. So far, the challenge has raised more than £300,000 for the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association, with hopes of hitting the £500,000 mark before the final leg. The ride will finish in Dublin on Friday where the team will deliver the match ball to the Aviva Stadium ahead of the British and Irish Lions' clash with Argentina. Read More Sport NOTE TO SELF Fergie spots emotional 26-year-old letter he sent on tour of Rangers' museum Logan says McCoist – who also took part in the 2023 charity cycle from Edinburgh to Paris - will fill the role again of trying to keep everyone's spirits up during the gruelling ordeal. But he revealed his close pal nearly never made it all – because he kept fiddling with his bike's settings! Logan said: 'Ally's been out and about but his bike broke down the other day. 'I told him not to trust himself to check the batteries on his fancy gears – someone else needs to do that for him! 'We've lost a few to injury and it just shows how demanding this is going to be. 'I'm not going to lie – I've had my own aches and pains. Rangers legend Ally McCoist labelled 'Scotland's James Bond' as he takes an Easter dip in freezing cold loch 'No major injuries thankfully, but I've definitely been reminded why I probably shouldn't be moving this much at my age! 'I'm most nervous about the hills. 'I convinced myself Ireland was flat – it's definitely not. But nerves are good. 'I've always had them before a big challenge, and it means I care.' This year's event is both a tribute to Weir and a rallying cry to continue his legacy. 5 Former Scotland star Kenny Logan and his wife Gabby are part of the crew 5 And the group hope to raise almost £500,000 for two charities Logan added: 'The support's been incredible. 'We've still got time to push, and every penny counts. 'Since Doddie died, awareness has grown massively – but we still need to fund research. 'The Foundation has committed nearly £20 million already, which is phenomenal, but it's only the beginning. 'Doddie would be proud – but he'd be telling us to go further and faster. 'That's why we're doing this.' Seven Scots are in the Lions squad for the tour after Zander Fagerson withdrew due to injury. Logan admits he's disappointed winger Darcy Graham never got the nod – but thinks there might be time yet for the Edinburgh flier to make the plane to Australia. He added: 'I still think Darcy will go – there's a lot of rugby to be played between now and then, and there will be injuries. 'We've seen that with Zander missing out already. 'Overall it's great to see so many Scots in the squad – they'll be out to make their mark in Australia and put down a marker for the Test team.' All funds raised will support the Foundation's mission to find effective treatments – and ultimately a cure – for motor neurone disease. To donate or learn more, visit: Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page