EXTRA TIME

Barnsley manager Struber lost for words

July 23, 2020 at 7:53 am 1 comment

‪Liverpool’s first top flight triumph for 30 years surely was something to celebrate, but one tier lower, on the other end of the Championship table, there also was an incredible wave of emotions when Barnsley FC scored an injury-time winner at Brentford to survive relegation.

An emotional Gerhard Struber, the Austrian coach who took over at Barnsley in November (leaving Carinthian club WAC) was close to tears when he reflected on Barnsley’s survival after their last-gasp victory away to Brentford in the last round of the Championship. Due to Clarke Oduor’s goal from Patrick Schmidt’s low cross in the first minute of second-half stoppage time, Barnsley avoided relegation with their 2-1 away win by a one point margin over Charlton (losing to already promoted Leeds). Three Austrian players, Michael Sollbauer, Marcel Ritzmaier and Patrick Schmidt were in the middle of jubilant celebrations, together with their Austrian manager, after the final whistle.

Struber’s interview is really moving. That’s football!

Link: https://as www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/12034262/emotional-struber-lost-for-words

Wigan and Hull also have to play in League One next season along with Charlton, though Wigan‘s relegation because of a 12-points-deduction due to entering administration is subject to an appeal. Barnsley’s survival has vindicated the club’s decision to bring in Gerhard Struber, from Austrian side Wolfsberger AC, as their manager in November.

West Ham last night also made sure that they are also mathematically safe with a 1-1 away at Manchester United.

The relegation battle in the Premier League will be decided on Sunday afternoon with Aston Villa (v West Ham), Watford (v Arsenal) and Bournemouth (v Everton) still fighting. Two out of these three clubs will be relegated, Norwich‘s relegation is already inevitable.

UPDATE: Erfolgstrainer Struber: “Ich war ein bisschen der Papa” (Interview, Der Standard, 5.8.2020)
https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000119191881/gerhard-struberich-war-ein-bisschen-der-papa?ref=article

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