'I didn't see it coming' - Henrik Pedersen breaks silence on Sheffield Wednesday sacking
Henrik Pedersen was relieved of his duties as Sheffield Wednesday boss on Sunday.
Former Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen has admitted he was surprised by the club’s decision to sack him following his recent departure from Hillsborough.
Pedersen was sacked by the Owls on Sunday, less than 24 hours after they were beaten 2-0 by South Yorkshire rivals Doncaster Rovers at the Club Doncaster Sports Village.
It was Wednesday’s second successive defeat in the space of five days, with the Owls producing another flat and uninspiring performance in the process. Some supporters chanted ‘We want Henrik out’ both during and after the game.
Although Wednesday have made an encouraging start to the campaign in terms of results, losing just four of their first 16 matches across all competitions following a transformative summer, Pedersen’s side had struggled to produce performances that convinced supporters he was the right man to lead the Owls forward.
In a statement, Wednesday sporting director Simon Wilson said that a lack of progress in performances was the key reason behind Pedersen’s departure.
Opening up on his exit from Hillsborough, Pedersen told Danish outlet TV 2 Sport: “I didn't see it coming. I definitely thought there would be a longer string than losing two games after a strong, strong period.
“I was called up, and then it was done. It was a short process.
“I knew it would be a tough start with 18 new players and League One with 46 matches in total, so there's not much time to train. But we've been really stable and have grown a lot.
“After nine undefeated matches and then losing two, it is, of course, a shock to be fired on the basis of that.
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"I was just talking to my wife and the boys in the car. One minute, Milo is crying, and the next, he's singing Sheffield Wednesday songs. They loved it as much as I did.
“So, of course it hurts, but that's part of football, as we know."
Pedersen added: “I basically always believe in the best in people, and it's hard for me to understand what happened, and they must have their reasons. Of course, it's disappointing, because they've been fantastic owners until Saturday.
“They've done a lot of things for the club, and that's why it hurts not to be a part of it anymore.”