10 years on from Brentford’s promotion to the Championship, Uwe Rosler has discussed the ways he turned around a faltering side to gain promotion.
The season prior, ended in heartbreak losing in a play off final, coming after narrowly avoiding promotion on the final day.
The 2013/14 season started in poor fashion.
Nine points from a possible 15 to start the season didn’t seem so bad. But the second month of the season saw three losses from five.
In order to try and change the Bees’ fortunes, Rosler changed attitudes in the squad.
Speaking to the club’s official website he has discussed the vital moments of that season.
What has Uwe Rosler said?
In a private setting, the manager was trying his best to try and change his side’s fortunes.
The issues had followed the team from the season before, a factor which wasn’t lost on Rosler: “There was a hangover and we didn’t start the season well.”
There had to be a change in the culture at the club if promotion was going to be a realistic goal.
“I opened up the gates completely and everyone had the possibility to talk. The players and the staff were forced to talk and say what we could do better to get back on track.”
The German manager put it on the players to discuss some home truths and clear the air.
This helped the players to understand each other better it seems: “The truth had to come out. I think the players appreciated the opportunity to get their feelings across.
“I got a clearer picture of what the players wanted and needed”
Players and manager became unified and understood what was required of each other to succeed.
“Before the talk, I was trying things out to change momentum and I chopped and changed a bit because we were not happy with the results.”
It was getting to a point where there was no clear team, system or identity at Griffin Park which was taking its toll on results.
Rosler believed that the honesty had changed this: “We found clarity, stuck to one system – that was the key to turning it.
“It was just about getting momentum again, then the clarity of what we needed, what we had to do to win matches”
The Bees went on a winning run following this revelation by Rosler, finishing the season with 94 points, including 28 wins and 10 draws.
Securing second place in League One and promotion to the Championship and never looking back.
Recollecting on his side’s form through out that season, the German put their form down to momentum: “When the first win comes, the second win comes, then everything gets easier.
“We found the momentum, we won those games at a crucial time, and it just went from strength to strength.”
A historic moment for the Bees.
Who knows where they could be without Rosler asking for honesty after a loss to Stevenage in 2013.