Gersbach happy to leave club frustrations behind to join Socceroos

Alex Gersbach's late call-up for the Confederations Cup has given him the chance to put his club frustrations aside with the defender desperate to prove himself in Russia to win back his starting spot at Rosenborg.

Alex Gersbach

Alex Gersbach in action for Australia Under-21's Source: Getty Images

The 20-year-old former Sydney FC player was called into Ange Postecoglou's Confederations Cup squad as a replacement for Brad Smith, who was injured in last Thursday's 3-2 World Cup qualifier win over Saudi Arabia.

After a promising start to the season with Norwegian side Rosenborg BK, Gersbach has ensured a frustrating time of late.

He started the first four games of the current Eliteserien season before being relegated to the bench and struggling for game-time upon the arrival of new left-back Birger Meling in February.

"I sort of lost my spot as starting left-back and haven't been playing of late, which is disappointing," Gersbach told The World Game.

"The club signed a new left-back in February and after he came back from an injury he went straight into the team.

"I played a cup game a couple of weeks ago, but it's been three or four weeks since I played in a league game.

"I'm not too happy about it, to be honest, but that's football, I guess. I want to be playing and I feel like I deserve to be playing, but I've just got to keep working hard and try to get back into the starting side. That's my focus."
Gersbach joined Rosenborg in January last year, making 19 appearances in his maiden season with the club, which won the 30-game league by 15 points last season. They lead the current competition by one point after 12 rounds.

Gersbach, who's two Socceroos caps came in the friendlies against Greece last June, is back in the squad for the first time since the World Cup qualifier against Thailand last November where he was an unused substitute.

Gersbach will meet up with the rest of the squad in Russia after flying out of Norway on Thursday and is determined to take full advantage of his time in the national fold.

"This call-up has come at a really good time for me," he said. "I'm going to give it my all and hopefully do well in the tournament and come back to my club and see how things go then.
"It's unfortunate Brad got injured, but I've got to take this chance with both hands. I'm really looking forward to meeting up with the boys and if I get to play I'll give it a real crack.

"Even though I haven't played much recently I'm happy with my fitness and I'll just keep working hard in camp."

Gersbach is more used to playing in a conventional back four, but said he would embrace the situation if asked to play as a wing-back ahead of the three-at-the-back formation Socceroo coach Ange Postecoglou has recently used.

"I think it's good," he said. "Some teams have had a lot of success with it, this year especially. We saw Chelsea win the Premier League with three at the back and wing-backs.

"I haven't had much experience myself with that formation, but I'm looking forward to getting into camp and seeing how it all works.

"We're encouraged to get forward as fullbacks at Rosenborg, so I don't think it's too much of a difference."


Share
Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Tour de France, Tour de France Femmes, Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España, Dakar Rally, World Athletics / ISU Championships (and more) via SBS On Demand – your free live streaming and catch-up service. Read more about Sport
Have a story or comment? Contact Us

Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Tour de France, Tour de France Femmes, Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España, Dakar Rally, World Athletics / ISU Championships (and more) via SBS On Demand – your free live streaming and catch-up service.
Watch nowOn Demand
Follow SBS Sport
3 min read
Published 15 June 2017 9:51am
Updated 15 June 2017 6:04pm
By Greg Prichard

Share this with family and friends