Højbjerg sparks widespread controversy in Denmark after shocking remarks

Denmark captain Pierre-Emile Højbjerg has sparked widespread controversy in his country following his comments criticizing coach Brian Riemer’s choices after Denmark's 3-2 loss to Norway on Thursday in the first round of the UEFA Nations League.

After the match, an Olympique Marseille player criticized the decision to field him alongside Morten Hjulmand, an Atlético Madrid midfielder, arguing that the duo has similar characteristics. He said: "The problem is that we have players of the same type in midfield. Perhaps the coach should choose one and leave the other on the bench, in order to prioritize the team's interests over our individual performances."

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg's comments have sparked strong reactions within Danish football, as former international Thomas Gravesen stated that the captain's remarks confirm a "serious problem" between the players and coach Brian Riemer. Meanwhile, former coach of several German clubs, Bo Henriksen, deemed that the issue "should have been resolved internally," describing what happened as a "disaster" for the Danish national team, adding that discussing the matter in front of the media is "extremely foolish" for the team captain.

In light of the uproar caused by his statements, Højbjerg returned and publicly apologized, confirming that what he said was a "mistake." He wrote on his Instagram account: "I apologize to my teammates, to the coach, and to everyone involved. One should not speak publicly about what a teammate or the coach is doing, as it will take up much more space in the media and outside the team than it actually is."

He added: "I can play with Morten without any problem. He is a talented player whom I respect a lot, and I feel comfortable with him, and each of us will give our all for Denmark."

For his part, Reimer confirmed that the crisis is over after his captain's apology, saying: "Pierre responded and apologized today. We had a very good conversation about this, and it's over now." All eyes will be on Denmark's lineup in their upcoming match against Wales on Sunday to see if Reimer will continue to rely on Højbjerg and Hjulmand together.