
Jesper Karlstrom was this week's guest on Udinese Tonight, where among other things he spoke about the defeat to Como, his career and how he's finding life in Udine and Serie A.
The first topic was obviously Monday's game at the Stadio Sinigaglia.
“We didn't play well. We started the game really badly, made lots of mistakes and conceded some cheap goals. Como played with more intensity. They're a great team who are good in possession and we didn't perform to our usual standard. We played really well against Atalanta, with the right intensity and focus. That's how we'd like to play all the time but in football it comes down to the small details.
“We need to move on now. We've analysed the game and we'll need to show more commitment and concentration against Roma. I'm sure we'll produce a good performance."
The Swedish midfielder joined Udinese in the summer from Polish side Lech Poznan, where he first met Kosta Runjaic.
“In Poland I played against him lots of times and I always won. He was the one who wanted me here in Udine. It was always my dream to play in Serie A, partly because my granddad is from Venice, and Udinese was the first Italian club to want me.
“I believe in myself and I always try to play the same way. Throughout my career I’ve always achieved my goals through hard work. 29 is perhaps a bit late to arrive in Serie A but I'm glad I've managed it. It's a top league with lots of fantastic players and famous stadiums like San Siro. I've been learning Italian with Ekkelenkamp – but I'm better than him!"
Jesper went on to describe life in Friuli with his girlfriend and "Bruno".
“My girlfriend is Swedish like me. I met her a year and a half ago. She's in Udine with me now and we live together with our new dog, Bruno – a black-and-white maltipoo. I like Udine. It's small. It's different to Stockholm, which is a big city. I often walk around the streets with Bruno. Udine is close to the sea and the mountains too. I like the Udinese fans – they're lovely people. I want to apologise for the Como match.”