Gerhard Struber Press Conference | Middlesbrough vs Bristol City

Gerhard Struber met the local media ahead of Bristol City's trip to face Middlesbrough on Saturday, March 14th (12.30pm). 

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

God, let's just do some um some squad news first of all. Any any knocks, anything picked up from uh from Tuesday night that's gonna cause you a problem for the weekend?

SPEAKER_00 0:07

Yeah, we um uh we had uh the one or other um injury more right now with uh George Stunner. We will miss also the next center back for more more weeks. Yeah, as looks uh at the moment he uh uh he will be out uh and not available for the next few games. He has a a ligament deer in his ankle. Yeah, so yeah, we will miss him, uh the other players already.

SPEAKER_02 0:32

Which on the back of all the injuries you already got, and for this weekend Neto can't play because it's uh against Middlesbrough that I when it rains it pours.

SPEAKER_00 0:41

Yeah, I think this is um what it is, and we have to do uh the best. I think of course we could uh uh speak about it um a long time and we could moan about that, but uh we have uh to find here a good uh setting what help us to to be also against middle sporo on a on a to come on a really good level. Yeah, otherwise uh you could come um under problems, especially against Middlesbrough at the moment. But uh for us it's important that we find here a setting with players they they can build a good resilience and uh and can build of course also a good foundation together that we can um yeah um create a really good performance and that's the the plan and that's um the responsibility for every single one.

SPEAKER_02 1:29

And just thinking about to earlier in the season, obviously the similar situation in midfield, and and you ended up having to to put players that maybe weren't used to playing in there to sort of fill gaps. Is that the situation you're in now defensively? You can you have to ask players to fill in where they're not necessarily used to playing?

SPEAKER_00 1:44

Yeah, I think we have to to do it, uh we have to be creative. I think these are the moments uh where we have to be uh more creative, we have to be uh, yeah, maybe not every single player is in his uh best position or family opposition, but that it it this is sometimes the situation, and we have uh to bring out the best, yeah. And uh and I think in this way, what what could be a good mix, what could help us in the end uh to have especially against a team like Middlesbrough, um nevertheless a good chance uh for a really good performance, and this is everything what I what I think right now.

SPEAKER_02 2:20

Yeah, and injuries are a part of the game, you you'll have known that through your your career and management and all the rest of it. Hindsight makes things a lot easier, but just thinking back to January and and the work that was done defensively, knowing that Luke McNallon probably wasn't gonna play this season, do you sort of look back and think actually we probably should have tried to get an extra body in, recall a youngster, do something just to give you a little bit more cover there?

SPEAKER_00 2:45

Yeah, I think after afterwards you're always uh smarter, and of course, uh I think um it's not only a topic that uh we bring someone new in. I think uh when we would have uh when we would do everything that we hold the group together, I think then uh we would have uh not a topic like that.

SPEAKER_02 3:04

Um in terms of putting sort of square pegs in round holes because you're forced to because there are there aren't players there. Do you have to have conversations with those players to sort of see who's more open to it, who's more comfortable playing in uncomfortable places?

SPEAKER_00 3:19

Yeah, I think this is uh really important that we have here a good communication. I I think uh I have to feel a little bit the um the mood when I confrontated players with a little bit the different task, yeah, and uh and I have to feel and I think with with players where I have in my brain they could um uh close the gap uh for the one or other game in the next um few weeks. Yeah um I think um uh of course it it's really important to have the opinion and have and get the feeling. So this is not only a um a one-man show from me, this is my decision, and we we go this way. So, this is of course, especially in the situation where we are with our back line, it's important that we find here a good uh feeling together how we want to do it. In the end, of course, I take the decision, but uh I want to have here a good uh exchange with uh with with uh more parties.

SPEAKER_02 4:14

Yeah, and and and when things are tough like this, you know, it it's that whole sort of backs to the wall mentality. Sometimes that that can bring the best out of a group and and individuals.

SPEAKER_00 4:24

I would say what uh I think more in chances, and I'm a very optimistic person, yeah. And I I think sometimes the attention goes so high when you have a maybe a new task, a little bit a new uh situation in front of you, and in this way, yeah, we want to prepare, of course, also against Middlesbrough a team. They are ready, yeah, with what I say, with a really big resilience and with uh with a really big hunger to be uh successful.

SPEAKER_02 4:52

Um we've just been chatting to your your captain Jason who who was talking about the need to for players to look at themselves and and to get back to to their own best play. That's what's needed, isn't it? There's too many players that are probably not quite at the level we've seen for much of this season.

SPEAKER_00 5:10

Yeah, of course. I think it's uh you can speak always why is it? Yeah, I think different reasons. I am fully with Jason. Yeah, everyone has to be here with with himself on the on the highest level and not uh hopefully sorry with ourselves about the situation. Yeah, so I think this is uh a really good time to show character, show a big mentality individually, but of course also team-wise. And I think we have a lot of really good uh uh uh characters in our group and uh and uh and and especially this time, yeah. It's not easy, yeah, it's a tough time, but um we have to to handle this time with uh a good mentality, a clear mindset, and and and and of course also with a really big optimism.

SPEAKER_02 5:57

And in terms of how you sort of deal with that, because the players aren't stupid, then they know themselves when they're playing well and when they're not quite hitting their own levels. Do you sort of sit and chat to them? Do you leave them to sort of work through it themselves? How do you try and get the best out of them?

SPEAKER_00 6:11

It's also really individually. I think I know the players right now, and some players they need, of course, a little bit more um exchange with the coach, and some players they I think they reflect uh the performance also really good, sometimes with his own. Yeah, and uh but of course I think exchange uh and um and and the clear plan and everyone should know what what what we have to do in Middlesbrough. That's my responsibility, my duty, and uh in this direction. I'm I'm sure when we uh jump in this game that every single one knows his his task.

SPEAKER_02 6:45

Yeah, um you've obviously been at the club a relatively short period of time, but Bristol City's record against Middlesbrough for the last long time has been very good. Is that does that have any bearing on anything at all, even if only in sort of positive thoughts of of some players and fans?

SPEAKER_00 7:01

Nice to hear, but uh has no influence in my world of football or in my preparation.

SPEAKER_02 7:09

And in terms of the test that you face, obviously the second in the table didn't go their way on um on last night, but they are a very good team.

SPEAKER_00 7:17

Yeah, I I think they show this uh many many times in this season. It's not the coincidence that they are um yeah, the best spots in the table. So yeah, it's a big team, uh really good coaching coach team, uh, with uh interesting uh game style. Yeah, but yeah, it's also many things on us, yeah, and I think we have to be um more than that what what we was in the last few games, yeah. And I think this is more so that we are strong in both boxes, yeah. How we win the first duel, how we how we when we realize chances, then we are much more ruthless. And I think in this direction we have to be with us uh really honest, and this was not enough in the in the last few games, and we have to to change that, and hopefully we can see this on Saturday.

SPEAKER_02 8:04

Yeah, and is that a mentality issue as much as anything? Defensively, that sort of bloody-mindedness to to get in people's way and and do that side of it, and and the more the cool thinking in the final third when you've got into great positions, but maybe not made the right execution or the right choice.

SPEAKER_00 8:19

Yeah, it's a is it is especially in the last third. We have so many box entries, I think, every every single game, but so the decision making in the last third to realize maybe a little bit the higher chance with one more pass or with uh I think this has of course also to do with freedom, with a little bit uh um the right mood in the in the right moment to do the right things. Yeah, so be efficiency in the end. Uh, this is something where we have to to look, of course, what is the task, but on the same time to feel really a good feeling with the task and not this is too much pressure in the in the brain. And I think we have to work here on a good balance. And on the same time, of course, defending moments to be in the in the aerial duels um a monster. Yeah, this is not something where I can say, please be a monster. It's not so easy. Yeah, we lose two monsters with Rob Dickey and Rob Atkinson, and the reality is we we suffer a little bit in this direction, yeah, and uh and we want to bring out the best from the others at this time, and we want to do it on on Saturday. Yeah, we have to do it, yeah, that we can uh uh bring points on. This is also in Middlesbrough. My clear goal with all the challenges what we have right now. My clear goal is that we create a really tough performance, and then it should be also hard for them to break us down and in this direction. I want to see a really resilient team with a really big hunter.

SPEAKER_02 9:55

And just finally, sort of away from what's happening immediately. I'm sure that's taken almost all of your focus, but thinking because Jason came in, he's one of a handful of players who've out of contract, not this summer, next summer. Are sort of discussions ongoing in terms of trying to get those players tied down to new deals?

SPEAKER_00 10:12

Yeah, I think um that's something what is super, super important, yeah, and the club has a really big responsibility to do everything that we hold Jason here with um yeah, with uh a long-term uh contract. This would be, of course, for everyone here a really big signal when Jason Knight um sign a contract, a long-term contract. So I would like that. I I I love to work with Jason Knight, he's a really good uh football player and on the same time a big character, big leader, and um yeah, I would uh love that um we do everything uh club-wise, what we can do, yeah, that we we attend the contract.

SPEAKER_01 10:51

Thank you very much. Sorry, Carl, just on those contract sort of discussions, is that something you get particularly involved in as head coach, or is that more left to the other people in other roles at the football club?

SPEAKER_00 11:03

Yeah, this is uh in other roles, of course. Um they want to hear have my opinion about players, and I give them my opinion really clear, but the negonation, all the the exchange with the agents um goes not over my over my table. This is uh in other hands.

SPEAKER_01 11:22

I guess that's a similar topic with the likes of Mark Sykes, Sam Bell. They obviously are more immediate, not issue, but discussion points to have. Uh have you got any idea of just where those talks are at, whether there's been contracts offered?

SPEAKER_00 11:35

Um I am clear uh with Sykes, yeah. Mark Sykes is a player, of course. Um maybe he was not always uh so stable uh in this season, but uh he has some injuries, there's always uh some topics. But I have a high appreciation about his football uh intelligence and also his um his um his yeah his quality, what he can bring on the table, of course, with um a more stable situation, he could be um of course a starter player, and when he is ready, he can be a really good championship player. So in more direction, I have a belief in him, and I would like when we um make also here with the contract the next step.

SPEAKER_01 12:14

But are you aware if there's if that step's been made? So I know when we spoke to him a few months ago he said there hadn't been an offer yet. Do you know where that's at at the moment?

SPEAKER_00 12:22

Yeah, I don't know exactly how the how the the exchange uh with the age and this um goes on, but um I can only say that uh I would like that we uh we we we we find here a good deal.

SPEAKER_01 12:35

With George was that picked up during during the game? Yeah so was that did he manage to play on with that during the during the game?

SPEAKER_00 12:43

Yeah, I think uh you can see of course his attitude and and how he's ready to let everything um on the table and and and invest everything. He has a really big pain, especially after the game. Uh um and yeah, we realized uh in the scan yesterday that he has a uh a Liga Mentor in the ankle, and uh yeah it's um it's the next uh um situation, the next player where we will miss.

SPEAKER_01 13:10

And he's obviously really been playing in a position that's not his natural one for so much of the season. I guess it's it's been so positive how well he's performed in a role that's maybe not what he's used to.

SPEAKER_00 13:20

Yeah, uh we know where uh George Dana has his biggest strength, and uh and and and of course also where maybe he has a little bit potential to to improve. But I think that he has so many games. Um what we have not seen on our radar. Yeah, when we are honest, uh George is a really interesting player, but uh that he plays so many games. This was not uh this was a little bit dependent on on other players with injuries or with uh players they they we we sell. Yeah, so I think in this direction um he made big, big steps. Um right now he's he's one of our most important uh defenders, and now he is out. So this is of course also really painful.

SPEAKER_01 14:04

Safe to say Noah's had quite an introduction to the championship. This is going to be another challenge for him, isn't it? Saturday with another partner in there.

SPEAKER_00 14:10

Yeah, I think um, first of all, when you bring uh new players in like uh Noah or Tommy Horvath, and we have not so much training time, uh, we play back to back all three days, it's my feeling at the moment, and uh it's fact, not only a feeling. Yeah, uh so then you have not so much training, and how they how they um um jump in our style of play, how they um deal with so many games. I'm really really happy also how Noah is playing, but the integration time needs a little bit, yeah, and of course, we cannot expect that Noah Isla isn't right now um um on this level like Zakweiner. I am really really uh excited to see him, how he can come, and maybe he can be the next Zak Weiner in the next uh uh um couple years. And the same is with Tommy Horvath. He is right now in a really good place, and we we we can see in many moments how he interpreted our style of play, but he needed also time, and he can be not the Anis Memeti 1-1 in this direction right now. But I have a really good feeling he can be a really interesting Tommy Horvath on a uh on a similar level, like uh Anis Memeti in the next couple years, and this is, I think, so uh we have to integrate it then. We have some buttons with injuries, we have new players there, we have to integrate, uh, and uh and these are so so some some some topics what we have, and then uh you have a different a little bit a different dynamic in the group, and and and all this mixed together is at the moment so a little bit the challenge for for everyone.

SPEAKER_01 15:50

So I know there's plenty of games still to play this season, and obviously you know the playoff finish is still mathematically possible, but I guess looking ahead, having Noah and Tommy in for this challenging period where they are learning and playing games that should stand you in good step for the future as well.

SPEAKER_00 16:04

Yes, I think we could uh I think this is so in in both directions. We have uh a big expectation on this season, and we struggle at the moment, yeah, with uh injuries, with all that what we what we spoke. On the other side, we can create right now a really good foundation for the next. Yeah, and in this direction, of course. I also thinking uh so for Nu Eile, for Tommy Horvard, it's great that they get game time um on this level and they grow quicker, like uh when they would um have not this game time on this level. So this is so we pay a little bit the price, yeah, but maybe for the long term, it's a big advantage.

SPEAKER_01 16:43

So I guess it's three quarters of the way through a season now your your first season. We ask you a lot after games, you know, how you feel teams are performed and what what your feeling is at the moment, with where the club's at, position wise, all that's going on at the moment. How are you finding finding the job and how close to where you want to be are you?

SPEAKER_00 17:00

Yeah, I think when you're a championship coach, then you have to be um in this roller coaster, always a stable person. And of course, I think the last uh uh game in Leicester I have a different expectation, uh, and especially when we have a performance like the first half. This makes also something with me, and I'm uh completely unhappy, and I was really angry after the game how we how we did it. But on the same time, um we have a young group of players, we have new players, we have some topics at the moment, and they need, of course, a coach that uh he has a good overview, yeah, uh and and and can take uh good decisions, and uh, and of course, I would wish a little bit a different uh frame, but that's sometimes um yeah, the championship, that's sometimes the roller coaster where we are, and then we have to deal with that. And uh, and this is not always super nice, yeah, but uh we have to to jump out and uh to struggle in the in the in the football management. This is sometimes I think in this direction uh we have to be calm, we have to be really close together in all parties. Yeah, also uh I hope our fans uh um yeah stick together, um, especially Middlesbrough again, a really big, big uh fight. Yeah, and we need our fans, we need every single one with a really good energy next to my team to help uh in difficult times uh together.

SPEAKER_01 18:27

You mentioned the final third, the defensive third. You also touched on the lack of training time you guys have had. I guess when you feel like you're trying to tweak things and make, I guess, make things click in the opposition box mainly. How can you go about doing that when you've not got the time on the training pitch? What can you do?

SPEAKER_00 18:42

Yeah, I think of course analysis helps uh is a is a really big part that we speak, of course, with players with pictures, yeah. What we could do in some moments uh differently, yeah, and we improve in this way the players with with pictures. Of course, we have a little bit um some training buttons outside, but always the most of the time in really low uh level loads. Yeah, we cannot create uh uh between these games also a high load, but sometimes it's important to create uh with a high-intensity training exactly these buttons um that this goes more um yeah in the brain and in the body. So, of course, this is right now the the situation: no training time or not so much training time, and we have to do it more, of course, with with with video pictures and uh and clips and um and with many uh exchange.

SPEAKER_01 19:38

Yes, that's a different challenge that the championship presents. Obviously, you've managed there before, but in compared to other leagues, have you actually adapt the way you work a little bit this season with games coming as often as they have done?

SPEAKER_00 19:48

Yeah, I think you can speak about it, uh but when you realize it uh how it is, then it's uh of course for the players but also for me, for my coaching team, it's uh demanding. It's uh it's a really uh really um interesting time where we are and uh and uh and uh and find here always a good balance. I think this is uh maybe the key to come out in the end with um with uh the right performances and results.

SPEAKER_01 20:13

Obviously, Neto and Delano can't play this weekend, but when you've got someone who's been in that Middlesbrough camp as recently as Delano has, are you able to I guess pick his brain a bit and try to get a better understanding of just what you might be facing at the riverside?

SPEAKER_00 20:26

I think of course this goes this goes more and more, but we need um training time, yeah, especially for Delano and uh and uh and Neto the exchange with uh Middlesbrough with all the tactical things. Yeah, I think I don't want to bring my my boys uh under pressure with uh some information. I think we have, of course, a really good picture about Middlesbrough, how they want to play, and uh and I need not so much inside us from these both players.

SPEAKER_01 20:58

So I think that game just before Christmas feels a long time ago, now at Ashton Gate, but that was a really good result. I know you said you didn't pay too much attention to the record previously, but how much confidence can you take from that game earlier this season?

SPEAKER_00 21:09

Yeah, I think uh something. I think uh this was of course a game uh where it was really efficiently how we score, and uh and of course we could see also how they play against us and how they want to play with with this typical style what they have. So I would say, yeah, I think we can take something from this game and uh and um and be of course um from the starting point uh on Saturday really focused um yeah against the top team.

SPEAKER_01 21:37

From the preparation you've done, how different do you think they look to the sides you face them? Because obviously that was right at the start of Kim Helberg's 10 tenure, wasn't it?

SPEAKER_00 21:44

Not so much differently. Yeah, it's uh many, many same buttons what I could see right now, and many, many um things what is um similar, like then what we what we realized in December.

SPEAKER_01 21:56

You obviously touched on fans and wanting them to stick together. I'm sure plenty of be traveling. Up on Saturday lunchtime as it is. That's what would what would be your message then heading to the riverside?

SPEAKER_00 22:06

Yeah, what is my message? Um support the team, support uh my boys on the on the highest level. They deserve that uh with all the the challenges what what the team has in the last few months and especially right now with the injuries. So we need uh fans they have uh uh they they push my boys and help the boys to to come out from this um yeah from this uh uh topic of results, but also push them to the best performance what they can do on Saturday.

SPEAKER_01 22:40

I imagine from your point of view as well, we've seen the connection you've struck up with the supporters since you've taken. I imagine you're desperate to get a result for them after that to go over in a couple of difficult times, haven't you, after a couple of difficult results the last few weeks?

SPEAKER_00 22:51

Yeah, I think uh it would be the best time to change that and bounce back. Uh uh first of all, for me it's important that the supporters feel my boys let everything on the field. And uh I think sometimes you cannot always uh plan the result, but you can plan, of course, the performance and especially the effort. And I think first of all, we should be top in the basics, we should bring best effort on on Saturday, and then uh we will see is it possible to pick up points with that? And uh normally, and this is my feeling, when we are with a really big attitude on the way with the right effort, uh then it's always hard against us. And I think the fans have a high appreciation about it when they see the boys let everything on the field. And this must be, I I would say, so the the big statement on Saturday. Everyone can see we are we are fighting four points, we are really hungry and and really big together. And I think this could be also so a uh something what we could um yeah bring the bring a good energy for our fans, and then we are in one uh clear boat.