Jukka Jalonen coached Italy to win the World Championships at the first level. The Lion King is not currently actively looking for a new home.
Jukka Jalonen and the Italian national team were disappointed. PDO
Jukka Jalonen63, washed up at the helm of the Italian national ice hockey team ended with relegation to the second level of the World Championships.
Italy played for survival on Monday against Slovenia. Italy would have needed a victory in regular time, but the result was 1-5.
The result was a severe disappointment for Italy, and the emotions were especially on the surface in Fribourg’s BCF arena.
– We had one goal and we didn’t achieve it, goalkeeper Damian Clara said and looked into the void.
An Italian player hit the metal fence of the interview area with his bat.
Head coach Jalonen marched past all the reporters in the arena’s opening, in an unusual way for himself, without saying a word about the game.
– It’s no fun now, Jalonen said as he left.
Leakage points
After the emotions and the situation calmed down, Jalonen returned to Iltalehte.
– We were deservedly relegated, Jalonen said.
Italy had their good moments in the tournament, but the tension never lasted until the end.
Italy led the Slovenia match 1–0. In the Denmark game, the defeat was hard fought, and the Czech Republic was led by Italy after two sets.
– Of course we believed that we could stay at the first level, Jalonen said.
Jalonen exorcises the inefficiency of Italy’s number one giants and the entire team, as well as stupid icebreakers. Keeper Damian Clara had been the national team’s support and security in previous matches. Special situations did not materialize either.
– The Slovenia game was the first when the veskar game didn’t work.
The Italian players are going to pick up speed from the second level of the World Cup. EPA / AOP
“I’m not looking for anything”
It is possible that Monday’s match was the last of Jalonen’s career as a head coach.
On the other hand, Jalonen has not declared that his coaching career is now over. If a sufficiently interesting offer comes, Jalonen might still put the marker on the flipchart.
– The situation is the same as before. I’m not actively looking for anything, Jalonen said.
– Time will tell if anything will happen.
Next, the TV program Diili ja konovantajapesti is waiting for Jalo in the hockey championship league in HPK.
After two years at the helm of the Italian national team, Jalose has nothing bad to say.
– I could coach how I wanted. The guys did what they could and according to their own skills.
Jalonen has noticed some differences in the players. Italian blood also boiled in some places against Slovenia.
Slovenia scored a decisive 3–1 goal when Nick Saracino sat on the ice he took from the silly cross stick.
– Finnish players make smarter solutions, Jalonen said on a general level.
The Slovenian players were satisfied. PDO
“Vex”
Last season, Jalonen was raising Italy to the number one level, so at the end of the season, the World Series level is the same as at the beginning.
In February, at the Milan–Cortina Olympics, Italy managed to bully its bigger rivals.
During the World Championships, big names were left out of the team for various reasons, and injuries also plagued them.
However, Jalonen did not go behind the absences.
– It’s a shame that we couldn’t get everything out of the team.
– But in the big picture, Italy’s place is at the second level.
