Gerhard Struber makes Bristol City admission as Robins' pre-season training camp draws to close

Gerhard Struber makes Bristol City admission as Robins' pre-season training camp draws to close

Gerhard Struber and his Bristol City side are currently in Portugal for a pre-season training camp

Gerhard Struber is preparing for his first season as Bristol City boss (Image: Photo by Pau Barrena/Getty Images )

Gerhard Struber has admitted that he has never worked with a group of players more motivated than the current Bristol City squad, as the Robins' pre-season training camp draws to a close this weekend.

The 48-year-old, who was most recently Köln boss, is preparing for his first campaign as City head coach, having been named as Liam Manning's successor last month. The squad and Struber returned to the High Performance Centre a little over a fortnight ago for pre-season testing, before spending a week training at the Failand base.

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However, for the last week, the players and coaching staff have had a change of scenery as they've enjoyed a warm-weather training camp in the Algarve.

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Of course, it certainly won't have been a holiday for Struber's players as they both physically and tactically get up to speed for the upcoming season. As a result of the change of head coach, there will have been plenty of new ideas and principles to adapt to, but the City boss has been inspired by what he's seen so far.

Speaking to the Robins' media team, Struber said: "It's a very interesting week. I had the big chance to come in touch with my players and my staff, and I think we used the time in a very good way.

"We made, I would say, very good steps in our principles and how we want to play together. But also, with many players I've had the chance to speak a little bit more about football, about what is behind the player, about more topics and I think we used the time in a very good direction.

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"I think we did good steps and we can complete it tomorrow with a game," he continued. "This is how we can finish the training camp in a very good direction. My feeling is, the boys are very inspired by the new things, and of course, the motivation and energy of this group is massive.

"I've never before had a group with motivation like that, which makes my work so much easier because I have a group around me that has a super attention about all the new things. I think we've made good steps, but of course, we have many to-dos, but I'm happy right now with what we've learned together.

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"The tension is high, the attention is high in every training, but also, when we have some meetings, the boys are very interested in the new style and the new principles. Also, I can see in the training, the execution was on a very good level."

Before jetting back to Bristol, the Reds are set to play their first friendly of the summer, behind closed doors, against what Struber has confirmed to be a local second division side. For the new boss, that clash will provide him with the chance to get the first look at his players in action and an opportunity to see just how they have adapted to his style.

After returning home from the Algarve, the friendly schedule truly gets up and running with five friendlies to be played between now and the opening game of the season away to Sheffield United.

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City travel to Bournemouth for another behind-closed-doors game on Saturday, July 19, before taking on Newport County, Cheltenham Town, Plymouth Argyle and Real Valladolid over the course of the following fortnight.

While the time abroad has ensured the Reds have had a positive start to the Struber era, ahead of the new campaign, the City boss knows there is plenty more work to be done before August's trip to Bramall Lane.

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"I'm very excited to go back to Bristol with some learning points and also in my new apartment," the head coach admitted. "I am in more directions very excited to come back.

"This was here, the kick off in pre-season, but of course we have many to-dos to make the right steps and the right progress in our principles. I'm looking forward to being back in Bristol."

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