Real Sociedad striker Oscarson recently gave an interview, reflecting on his career.
Oscarsson discussed making his senior team debut at the age of 13, when his father , Oscar Solwaldsson, was the team's head coach. He also discussed his playing style, stating that he performs better when not involved in passing combinations, a style he learned from Haaland.
What were your thoughts when Real Sociedad contacted you in the summer of 2024?
“I discussed it with my father, learned about Real Sociedad, and met with people from the club… I like Real Sociedad, not only because of their facilities and squad, but also because their values align very well with mine. I think it’s a great place. Two years later, I can tell you that I’m very happy and satisfied with my decision.”
The jump from the Danish Superliga to La Liga was almost instantaneous. Similarly, Hoylen, also from Copenhagen, had a stint in the Austrian Superliga before moving to Serie A. Did you feel the difference when you first arrived in La Liga?
“I knew at the time that I might have taken a big step. Perhaps the ideal situation would have been like Hoylen's, where I transitioned to a second-tier league and could have adapted to the top league more smoothly and calmly. But you can put yourself in my shoes: you are a Danish Superliga player and suddenly you receive an offer from a club like Real Sociedad. What would you do? You wouldn't miss the opportunity, and you wouldn't convince yourself with words like, ‘Forget it, I'll have similar offers in two years.’”
Since you are familiar with Real Sociedad, you should know that Oyarzabal had already transitioned to a different role in 2024, playing as a center forward in the European Championship and scoring a decisive goal to help Spain win the title...
"Yes, I obviously know that, but I didn't come here with the idea of kicking Oyarzabal out of the starting lineup. I never dared to think that way. My idea at the time was just to come to Real Sociedad and fight alongside such an elite striker, a great captain, and a role model for the team, nothing more."
What are the main differences between La Liga and the Danish Superliga?
"From every angle, I was completely stunned when I made my debut. Do you know who I was playing against in my debut? Getafe!"
That would be really tough.
"Getafe's matches are very intense, fast-paced, and physically demanding... This match made me realize how different La Liga is from the Danish Superliga... It's a completely different world."
You were the team's most expensive signing in history, but you were always benched by Alguacil. What were your thoughts at the time?
“I’m human too, just an ordinary person, of course I have emotions. I won’t deny that that period was very difficult. I even fell into self-doubt, repeatedly asking myself if I was good enough and if I deserved to stay here. In the first few months as a Real Sociedad player, I didn’t score many goals and didn’t play much, but at the same time I believed that I had the ability to turn things around. I focused on improving myself in training. I can’t control other things, I can only make sure that I give my all here.”
That season you made 37 appearances and scored 7 goals, which is pretty good.
“I’m actually not satisfied. Of the seven goals, only three were scored in La Liga, and the other four were against weaker opponents in the Europa League. I can only say that I really had a hard time adapting to La Liga last year, so I value my growth over the years more than the statistics.”
Sergio trusted you, but then you got injured against Oviedo.
"Actually, it was an injury that had been lurking for a long time. I felt something was wrong during the preseason, but I kept pushing through it, and then it flared up when we played Oviedo. Maybe my recovery training during the summer training camp wasn't comprehensive enough. That injury was quite serious and had a big impact on me. I think I had a pretty good start to the year, and Sergio trusted me, so it's really a pity."
Matarazo is extremely cautious about your comeback.
“That period was quite strange. I felt that Matarazzo wanted me to play an important role, but because of the latent injury that broke out at the beginning of the season, I lacked confidence in my physical condition. After discussing it with Matarazzo, we came up with a recovery plan to gradually increase my playing time. At first, I played very little and had very little responsibility on the field. I just needed to complete the tasks assigned by Matarazzo. That period was really magical. I knew I wouldn't start, but as long as I was on the field, I could have a brilliant performance. This gradually helped me regain the confidence that I had lost due to the injury.”
Tell me about your personal cheering music; does it help you?
"It's not so much the song itself, but rather the fans' love for me that helped me. When they sang it loudly, I could feel their sincere wish for my success, which meant a lot to me. So my answer is yes. After going through such tough times, being able to be the star of the show because of a cheering song definitely helped me a lot, and the song itself is quite nice. Even today, I still encounter people singing this song to me when I go out, hahaha."
This Copa del Rey title belongs to Marrero, to Marin, and of course... to Oscarsson as well.
“This championship belongs to the whole team, and everyone has put in tremendous effort for it. It was hard-won; we were in dire straits many times, but we always managed to turn things around. Subedia’s goal against Osasuna, Remiro’s save against Alavés… many players stepped up in difficult times. When Oyarzabal lifted the trophy in Seville, we all felt that we truly deserved it.”
You've taken 12 penalties in your career and only missed once, but you missed your penalty in the Lacatuja shootout...
“I was so ashamed I just wanted to disappear, but my teammates comforted me. I took that penalty terribly, no doubt about it. But I wasn’t actually nervous. I was nervous, but that was before I took the shot. When I stepped up to the penalty spot, I was focused on the ball, the goalkeeper, and the goal. I put all my nervousness out of my mind at that moment. I missed mainly because I changed my mind at the last minute. I initially wanted to take it a different way, but I changed my mind while I was running up and shooting, and that was it… Luckily, the team won in the end, and nobody remembers that I missed.”
You scored four goals in one month after the Copa del Rey final.
"Indeed, I feel that I only showed my true level after the Copa del Rey final."
What do you think is the reason?
“If you analyze those games carefully, you’ll find that I didn’t participate much in the team’s passing – I didn’t participate in passing combinations or organize attacks. I was just a shotman standing in the attacking third. As long as the ball was passed to my feet, I was responsible for putting the ball into the opponent’s goal, no matter how. That’s how Haaland played. He could go 30 minutes without touching the ball and then score as soon as he had the chance. That’s the kind of game I watched him play.”
So you prefer the team to use this style of play and not make demands on you regarding offensive organization?
“Actually, if the team wants me to play with my back to goal, drop back a bit and organize the attack, I can do that, but I still feel that I can play a bigger role if I can push up the pitch, pressure the opponent's defense and create space for my teammates. Towards the end of last season, when I played as the center forward, Oyarzabal would play as the attacking midfielder. I found that Oyarzabal played very well with me as the target man in the attacking third, and we also had a good understanding. Actually, I felt this way during training before, but unfortunately, it was not very common for Oyarzabal and I to be on the field together before.”
In fact, you two have only started together in six games.
"Yes, but at the end of last season, Matarazzo said in several press conferences that playing me and Oyarzabal together was a good tactical choice, and I agree with his opinion."
In those six matches, you scored 3 goals, while Oyarzabal scored 4 goals.
"Yes, we promote each other and achieve win-win cooperation."
Talk about your playing style
"I think I'm a pretty versatile center forward. I can be a finisher in the paint, and I can also use my speed to get behind the defense."
In what areas do you feel you need to improve?
"I hope to improve my ball control and ball protection skills, and I believe I will improve."
Will you have a breakout season?
"This is exactly what everyone has been hoping for, isn't it?"
After two years of honing your skills, have you adapted to La Liga yet?
“Last season, I knew myself better than I have in the previous 21 years combined. You could say my physical condition has improved dramatically in the last two years, and I felt that on the field. This season we are back in European competition, and I am excited about the challenges ahead. For a footballer, playing a game every three or four days is the best way to experience the season. Of course, it is also challenging, partly due to physical fatigue, and partly because you don’t have enough time to process any emotions, whether it’s a victory or a defeat.”
There's still a long transfer window, but you're undoubtedly Real Sociedad's number 9 this season.
"Yes, I believe in my abilities. I performed well last season, which gave the club reason to continue to trust me. I don't pay much attention to rumors and gossip because I can't control them. I prefer to focus on myself, and if I eventually have to face a different situation, I will do my best to deal with it."
Have you been following the World Cup?
"Yes, of course. I was quite free during the holidays, so I watched a lot of matches. I cheered for all the Real Sociedad players who participated in the World Cup. It was the first time I had experienced a large group of people around me participating in a top international event, and I really enjoyed it."
When you see weak teams like Haiti and Curaçao participating in the World Cup, what do you think? Do you ever think that Iceland could have been one of them?
"Yes, of course. We Iceland participated in the World Cup in Russia in 2018, and we will continue to participate in the World Cup qualifiers with the goal of qualifying for the World Cup. This year's example of a weak team is actually Cape Verde. Although their overall strength is not as good as some strong teams, they have proven that they can compete with any opponent, which is also an inspiration for us Iceland."
How do you feel when you're lying on the sofa watching Iceland get eliminated?
"That was one of the toughest moments of my career... I actually spent that day in my own living room. It was the last round of the qualifiers, and we only needed a draw to advance, but we lost. I was miles away from the stadium, unable to help at all, and could only collapse helplessly on the sofa watching the final whistle..."
During the 2016 European Championship, it's said that 10% of your country's population went to France to cheer on your team.
“I was one of those 10% too. I was only eleven years old at the time. I remember watching the first two games with my family, against Portugal and Hungary. Both games ended in a draw. It was an unforgettable experience for me.”
Since you mentioned your family... your playing football isn't a coincidence, is it?
"Haha, that's right. My father is a head coach (Oscar Solvardsson, head coach of Reykjavik), and my sister is also a football player (Emelia Oscar Stottier, a player for HB Köln women's football team). Although we live far apart, we still often talk about football together."
Your father made your professional debut at the age of 15.
"15? No, it's 13! When I was in the Grota youth academy, my dad was actually my coach. Later, he was promoted to head coach of the first team, so he brought me into the first team for training. After the training, my dad felt that I had the ability to play for the senior team, so he put me on the field..."
Later, you defeated your father with a hat trick in the game. Wasn't that a bit ungrateful?
"That was definitely one of the craziest coincidences ever, probably destined to happen. I was 18 years old then, playing for Copenhagen, and we were drawn against Kopavogül Bright, the team my dad coached, in the Champions League qualifiers... The coach wasn't planning on starting me, but my starting teammate got injured, so he started me. In the end, I scored a hat-trick... and we won 6-3."
What did you talk about after the game?
“My dad was frustrated, no coach likes to lose, but he was also proud of my performance and he always gave me his full support.”
You have now started your own family in Donostia-San Sebastián
“Yes, do you know how cold Iceland is? It’s cold even in summer! For me, eating Basque snacks in Gipuzko, taking a walk on Shell Beach, sunbathing, and then training in Zubieta... it’s just so wonderful. I think my girlfriend and daughter feel the same way.”
Your daughter was born after you joined the team.
"Yes, she was born during the offseason and I brought her to Gipskwa when she was two weeks old. She has hardly been anywhere else in her life, so she is practically a 'Basque'."
