– I think it’s hard, if I’m going to be completely honest. But these are my feelings, and they are not important, says Straus to news. Straus experienced great success when he took over then-defunct Sandviken in the autumn of 2020. The following season even with the club’s very first league title. Last year, after being part of Brann, the feat was copied. Straus was signed by Bayern Munich after leading Brann to 12 victories in the first 14 games. TWO IN A ROW: Here Brann will be crowned series champion in 2022. Photo: Marit Hommedal / NTB This is in stark contrast to the start of this year’s series. Four of the last five games have been lost, and Brann is in 6th place – 15 points behind league leader Vålerenga. Straus first underlines that he is not a big fan of former coaches who will talk about everything that was so much better before. – But I obviously follow along very well. Fire women are the children of my heart, so I am frustrated and sad along with them. Not by them. I suffer with them when they have hardships, says Straus. Major changes There were many experts who believed in advance that Brann would notice the loss of key players. Nevertheless, there were probably few who predicted this start of the series. AWAY: National team stopper Guro Bergsvand was among the players who left Brann before this season. Photo: Annika Byrde / NTB – I think it is a very holistic question. I don’t think there is a quick fix to the problem, and a problem that can be solved by simply “doing this or that”, says Straus. He points out that Brann had an “unbelievably” tough winter with a heavy injury burden on important players. At the same time, it is difficult to integrate as many new players as Brann had to do this year, Straus points out. – In addition to the fact that some players naturally disappeared after last year’s season. This means that the newcomers have a difficult birth in their Fire career. They don’t get to experience entering a well-functioning machine, as new players have done in the past, says Straus. – In the media, the new players have received some criticism, as they have so much to live up to. And I don’t think it has been easy for them. But that’s how it is sometimes in football, and I think that Brann will always come back again, says Straus. NEW DOWN TOUR: Rosenborg beat Brann 4-1 in the first round of the series. Photo: NTB – Must stand against the headwinds Even though Brann is in the middle of a new coaching change, Straus is not worried about the club in the long term. He believes the club must spend time rebuilding itself. – There are still quite a few players there who were part of the success we had, and know what that meant. Now it is important that they straighten their backs, raise their heads and stand up for the team. They have to stand in the headwind they are in right now, says Straus. Brann’s assistant coach Knut Slatleim has taken over the main responsibility at the same time as the search for a new head coach continues. OPTIMISTIC: Knut Slatleim. Photo: NTB Slatleim gives Straus a lot of credit. – There has been a great flow in the player group. That is often the price you pay if you do well in the Toppserien. Then you have to take time to build up, both on and off the pitch, says Slatleim to news. – How is the group now? – We are an offensive group that works hard to turn it around. The team has responded well in recent weeks, even if the results have not come. We strongly believe that if we keep up our achievements, the results will come, says Slatleim. Now an important local match against Åsane awaits on Monday evening. Before the meeting, only four points separate the reigning league champions from the newly promoted. – I am very humble in relation to the fact that others are in control now. When I was a coach, the team was built on a foundation that was quite strong in terms of playing style, culture and identity. I hope they maintain that and it is something they have in their foundation. It gave us a lot of security, says Straus.
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