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Gerhard Struber was denied the chance to celebrate promotion with FC Köln. However, the Austrian quickly shook off his frustrating dismissal from the cathedral city club and signed for Bristol City. In an interview with Transfermarkt, the 48-year-old talks about his new job in the second tier of English football including his decision to take on the challenge in the Championship, the advantages of coaching the Robbins, his desire for promotion and the necessary investments.

Transfermarkt: Mr Struber, on June 19 – just a month and a half after your departure from FC Köln – you were presented as the new head coach at Bristol City. Was that enough time to catch your breath?

Gerhard Struber: Yes, actually. Leaving Cologne was not easy, of course. But at the same time, you have to look ahead, reflect carefully and try to put things behind you. To be honest, my initial reaction was to take a break. But because I really appreciate England as a footballing nation, it was clear to me that if a club came along where I could be successful with my style of play, I would do it. It was a bit of a coincidence that Bristol City, a club that pursues exactly this style, got in touch.

Transfermarkt: What else attracted you to the job at Bristol City?

Struber: The Championship as a competition. But I also wanted to take the next step in my development as a manager in a very difficult league. We have ambitious goals and want to make the play-offs again this year. That makes this job very appealing.

Transfermarkt: What alternatives would there have been for you in the summer?

Struber: Immediately after leaving FC Köln, I received enquiries from Germany – including from a big traditional club. There were also some from Saudi Arabia and Turkey. I turned down a few offers that wouldn’t have been an option for me after FC Köln. But England is a footballing paradise for me. As a coach, you don’t often get the opportunity to work there. Given the circumstances, it was a chance for me to get back on track. It was also the best decision. When we started training, I had completely put 1. FC Köln behind me and was fully focused on this new challenge.

Transfermarkt: What lessons did you learn from your time in Cologne that you can apply to your job at Bristol City?

Struber: Of course, my role in England is a little different; I’m the manager and in direct contact with the owner. The lines of communication are very short and you know exactly where you stand. We have a clear exchange of ideas and know exactly where we want to go. The fans really appreciate our work. It’s a lot of fun for me to put everything into it here because the response is really good.

Transfermarkt: The classic coaching role without extra managerial duties in Germany, or working in England with more influence – which appeals to you more?

Struber: It always has to do with the people involved, regardless of the structure within the club. Here in England, I have it a bit easier because I have a say in transfers.

Transfermarkt: In Cologne, you met incredibly open and cheerful people who are easy to talk to, as you once said. What has been your experience in Bristol?

Struber: Bristol is a very lively and liveable city with very cheerful people who like to celebrate. There is a certain similarity to Cologne. It offers many events, but there is no carnival on the same scale (laughs). Many students live here, so it is young, colourful and extremely diverse in terms of people. It is a very interesting city; you can feel the history and nostalgia. Added to this is the typical English humour, which I really like.

Struber: What needs to happen for Bristol City to fight for promotion

Transfermarkt: After 15 match days, you are in 8th place, two points away from the playoff spots. What is your interim conclusion?

Struber: Really good, because we’ve performed well with one exception. The performance is at a very good level. The fans like our style of play. And you can tell that the lads have this style of football in their blood. The mentality and character of the team are impeccable. And I enjoy leading a team that has many leaders who take responsibility. That suits me, because we have big goals. It’s an incredible competition in the league with lots of games. Unfortunately, we have had to cope with many injuries. Ten regular players are injured – that is the sad reality and a blow for us. We have paid the price for that recently. Because we are working with a small squad. Given this situation, I am very satisfied with the results at the moment; we are within striking distance of the play-offs. After the international break, we want to continue climbing.

Transfermarkt: Bristol is the largest city in England that has never been represented in the Premier League. Why do you think that is and how can you change it?

Struber: I can’t really say why it has never happened. There have been good years, and we’ve come close. But we haven’t managed to make the big leap yet. There is a great desire for promotion, especially among the fans. The team also wants more after reaching the playoffs last year. They are very ambitious, very eager to learn and willing to invest a lot. We have a great spirit and incredible energy. However, in order to take the next step towards the Premier League, many factors have to come together, especially with regard to the unfortunate injury problems we are currently experiencing. Then a surprise could be possible this year. However, we have to be aware that there are much bigger clubs than us in the Championship who invest many times more than we do. You just have to put that into perspective.

Transfermarkt: In the spending rankings, The Robins are in 20th place out of 24 among all Championship clubs, with the equivalent of €860,000. In the end, there was even a transfer surplus of €890,000. What does that say about the club’s possibilities?

Struber: I have a very good relationship with our owner (Steve Landsdown). A lot has been invested in the club during his era. He has seen that you can be successful without always buying new players, but by developing a stable group. However, he knows that a certain amount of investment will be necessary in the winter and he wants to support us in this. We should do something in the winter, if only because of our injury worries in one or two positions, so that we can do more than just dream of taking the next step in the table. In the summer, I took over a team that was already on the right track, with a healthy attitude and conviction. But in the end, as everywhere else, it’s all about winning. The more often we succeed, the easier life is.

Transfermarkt: After the 1-1 draw at Watford on 7 November, you described your players as mental monsters. You said that you love coaching players like that. What type of player do you find impossible to get along with?

Struber: (laughs) I just like working with people whose actions reflect what they have promised. Players who give their all for success and don’t just talk about it. Integrity is the greatest asset and I value it highly.

Transfermarkt: What has been your biggest learning experience at Bristol City so far?

Struber: Seeing how you can integrate a footballing idea very quickly on the one hand, but also have to be pragmatic in your approach on the other. Because there are so many games and sometimes you have to play a different kind of football than you would like to see, but that’s due to the situation with injured players. I think we’ve found a good balance in recent weeks.

Interview: Philipp Marquardt