Stabæk manager Bob Bradley was satisfied after watching his new charges open their Tippeligaen season with a 3-0 blanking of guests Sogndal.
While the former US national team head coach made it clear their was still work to be done for the promoted club, Bradley admitted that mission one was accomplished. With the happy result, the New Jersey native became the first American to manage – and win – a top-flight European contest.
"We are not after just one win," Bradley told reporters after the final whistle. "We have several tough games ahead of us, but we should enjoy this. It is important that players get to know the winning feeling after a tough camp.
Having come from back-to-back national team posts with the United States and Egypt, Bradley was in charge of a club game for the first time since bowing out of the 2006 MLS Cup playoffs with Chivas USA.
While he saw some improvement in Stabæk from the preseason, the new boss also found some bullet points to work on in training from an opening day victory that left the Blue Ones tied for first place with Sarpsborg 08.
"We have struggled to keep clean sheets in the winter, so it is especially good to do it," said Bradley. "At times, we had good pace and good passing, but in between, we fell in too deep and were forced to hit long balls."
Stabæk will try to remain atop the table when they visit Brann next Sunday, April 6.
