Esa Jussila lived for a long time in Switzerland, which was considered an exemplary country, and saw its downside: “It’s getting more expensive”

– Of course there is pressure. A person would be lying if they didn’t experience them when it comes to a meaningful story. If I didn’t have pressure, I’d be in the wrong place.

Esa Jussila45, jumps into big boots. He left them behind for him Petteri Nykkyundoubtedly Finland’s most famous and certainly the most successful national team coach in floorball.

Jussila is now the head coach of the Finnish national team, for whom the World Cup in Malmö will be the first in his career as a head coach.

Many who followed floorball in the 21st century remember an extremely stylish and versatile defender from the rink. Jussila took care of his plot in his own end conscientiously, but scored a ton of points on that side.

Coach Jussila, on the other hand, is a great mystery to many. A big reason for that is that he already moved to Switzerland during his playing career and lived in the country for a long time. After that, he worked as a head coach in the Swiss league and was also part of the coaching team of the Swiss national team.

A man from North Karelia became a citizen of the world.

The contrast with Nykky is so great that it is transmitted even during a short TV interview. It’s easy to like Jussila, a socially skilled companion. That’s what everyone who knows him says without exception. Esa is a nice man.

– I only realized later that the years in Switzerland changed me quite a lot.

Example country

Jussila, who became a league star in Joensuu Josba, was 24 years old when he moved to Switzerland for the Alligator Malans team.

– His age thinks he knows a lot about the world. At some point, the truth dawns, he recalls.

– The Swiss culture, where you talk to people a lot, made me more open and genuinely interested in other people.

Both Malans and Wiler-Ersigen’s hometown Zuchwil, which he later represented, are municipalities in the alpine country inhabited by only a few thousand people.

So it’s no wonder that rumors were exchanged with the new arrivals.

Many people have a rosy image of Switzerland. Light taxation, great salaries, wonderful nature and landscapes – it’s easy to enjoy yourself in the country.

– It’s a really great country. The sense of self-worth lives strongly, and outwardly it can sometimes appear as if they are better than others. But the Swiss just think they are really good. It is no wonder that they have been able to take many of their things to the world and become successful.

Everything has an upside.

– Switzerland is also a very old country. When a child is born into a family, very often a woman’s career is thrown aside. It should be more expensive to put the child in care and continue with basic work than to stay at home with the child. It doesn’t really fit my world of values.

– Of course, the position of women has improved tremendously in Switzerland in recent years, Jussila, who has since returned to her home in Joensuu, emphasizes.

“Should have said it louder”

The change in the Finnish national team is strongly personified by Jussila. Star striker Justus Kainulainen said recently In an interview with Pääkallothat the relationship between the players and the coaching staff is more open than before.

Jussila’s coaching team also includes Antti Vartiainen, Jori Isomäki and Jarno Miracle.

The commander-in-chief emphasizes that he has wanted to be himself since day one. The same applies to other coaches.

– I’ll gladly accept it if someone thinks I’m nice. It has to do with my own values. I want to be close to the players and keep in touch.

Does coach Esa Jussila ever yell or get angry?

– In our last game against Sweden in the four-nation tournament, the situation was that the team needed a wake-up call. It was the first 10 minutes of the game. Then you had to say things a little louder – at least by my own standards. The team responded well to it.

– However, yelling has never been an absolute value for me.

Boldly different

The change brought by Jussila can also be seen in Finland’s WC roster.

The current template remained very similar until its last games. There was little turnover in the competition teams, and sure-fire goal-blocking specialists were hard currency.

Now there are seven first timers. In addition, players such as Juuso Aholaonly 19 years old Luukas Hyvärinen, Heikki Iiskola and Nico Jonaesonare considered to be forwards who are skilled with the ball, who are used to getting strong performances from them in club teams.

– Certainly, the team now has more ball skills than before. At the same time, however, Iiskola is an extremely physical, fast and durable player, but he also has top-level qualities in attacking play.

– Ahola, on the other hand, is exceptionally fast. In tournament play, players who can keep the energy level high for a long time are really important for teams.

The ones you think are the most defensive Lauri Stenfors, Eetu Sikkinen and Jonne Junkkarinen stayed on the beach. However, the latter two are on the reserve players’ list.

The ball as a tool of power

Jussila’s Finland tries to take care of the ball, but slow attacks must lead to goals. On the other hand, it wants to break the rhythm of the opponent’s ball game.

The fields are almost certainly shaped based on the club teams: there is the Classic field, the Oilers field and the Nokian KrP field.

– Certainly our game looks different depending on the fielder in the rink. Chains can agree on small things with each other. It brings versatility to our gameplay.

Under Nyky’s leadership, Finland last lifted the World Cup trophy in the air in 2018. In the home games, they were left with a sour silver, and two years ago in Switzerland, a disappointing bronze.

– Of course, the result is what determines our success. Because it is measured. If you are thinking about other things, I want to see that we are able to produce the best possible game.