I am no hot head insists Jonas Olsson
Friday 21st January 2011, 3:30PM GMT.
Returning Albion defender Jonas Olsson has insisted he has shaken off his ‘hot head’ tag despite his return from injury being delayed by suspension.
The Sweden international collected his first ban in English football following his first red card in five years in the Baggies’ FA Cup defeat at Reading.
And the vice-captain, who earned a reputation for regular suspensions during his younger days in Sweden, believes he has now changed his reputation.
The 27-year-old said: “Those couple of years in Sweden, when I got a lot of bookings, have haunted me ever since.
“But this was my first suspension in England and my first red card in five seasons so the label of being a player with an attitude problem, stupid tackles and a lot of cards is hopefully beginning to wash off.
“Just because you’re a physical player, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a dirty player.
“I see myself as a physical player but not as a dirty player or someone who gets wound up and makes stupid tackles or gets stupid bookings.”
Olsson was dismissed within 15 minutes of making his comeback as a half-time substitute at the Madejski Stadium.
But the Swede, who had been out for more than two months with an Achilles tendon injury, believes the dismissal was harsh.
He said: “It wasn’t due to a lack of fitness. I felt ready to go, but I was maybe a little bit too eager.
“For the first yellow card I was a little but eager to get a tackle in but the second one was a bit harsh.
“I don’t think I was the guy who tripped him. Marek Cech and I were running and I wasn’t the one who tripped him. Either Marek tripped him or he tripped himself. But that is something I will learn from.
“My first suspension in England could have come at a better time, but on the positive side I have had an extra 10 days to work on my fitness and get better prepared for the Premier League games.”
UK Sport
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