Barnsley defender Sollbauer: “Hardly anyone expected” Championship play-offs

Barnsley FC have made a 180-degree turnaround in the space of a year, transforming themselves from a team fighting against relegation to a possible Premier League side next season. The Championship club can dream of promotion and, in the play-offs, has the chance to make the world’s most expensive final when around €200 million are at stake. In the middle of it all is defender Michael Sollbauer, who joined Barnsley from Wolfsberger AC in January 2020 and is one of the top performers in South Yorkshire. In a Q&A session with Transfermarkt, the 30-year-old talks about the play-offs, a possible promotion to the English top flight, his interpretation of “leadership” and the current accumulation of head coach transfers.

Transfermarkt: You qualified for the play-off semi-finals with Barnsley to reach promotion to the Premier League. How do you rate this achievement?

Sollbauer: This is a huge success for us. Playing for promotion with such a young team – especially after last season – is certainly something hardly anyone expected.

Transfermarkt: On the 46th and final matchday, you managed a 2-2 draw against champions Norwich City and climbed to fifth place. Your opponent in the semi-finals will be Swansea – Brentford or Bournemouth would be waiting in the final. How do you assess your chances?

Sollbauer: For the four teams in the playoffs, these are crucial weeks where every little thing can count. We are not necessarily the favourites, but we have earned this spot over 46 matches. We deserve to be in the play-offs and now we want to get to the final – anything is possible there.

Transfermarkt: You mentioned last season, in which your club barely managed to stay in the league with 49 points as a newly-promoted team. In the current campaign, you picked up 29 points more. How was this increase in performance possible?

Sollbauer: Last season was very difficult for us as a team. I only joined at the end of January. The team was unsettled because of the position in the standings and the results. There are many reasons for the improved performances this season – thanks to staying in the league, the team has become very close. The club has made great transfers this season, the team is more experienced, more attuned and with our head coach Valérien Ismaël we play very successful football.

Transfermarkt: If you beat Swansea, you would be in the most expensive final in the world – the winner would get around €200 million. The match will be played at Wembley Stadium...

Sollbauer: ... But first we have the semi-finals against Swansea – that is our full focus. We want to reach the final and that would definitely be the biggest highlight of my personal career.

Transfermarkt: Are you afraid that, in the event of promotion, expensive new players will be signed who could take away the spots of the current regulars – including yourself?

Sollbauer: Not at all. It is hard to think about that at the moment, but of course the squad’s depth would be even higher and thus the competition possibly even greater. But I am already self-confident enough, I know my strengths and I would be more than ready for possible competition.

Transfermarkt: What would you be most looking forward to in the event of promotion?

Sollbauer: The Premier League is full of really good players. Internationally, the league has dominated everything across Europe this season – an all-English Champions League final is proof of that. Every single game would be interesting, especially the games against the Big Six – Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal.

Transfermarkt: Please explain Barnsley FC to us.

Sollbauer: Barnsley FC is a bit smaller compared to many other clubs in the Championship – but very well positioned in terms of infrastructure and conditions. The budget is also not the biggest in the league – the more the place in the play-offs has to be honoured. The composition of the squad and scouting is data-based and precisely matched to the playing system. The entire coaching staff is doing an outstanding job. We are a very well-functioning group with everyone working hard to achieve our common goals.

Transfermarkt: How would you rate your time in England so far?

Sollbauer: So far, I have played more than 60 matches in England. And of course, I am happy about every game in which I am on the pitch as a leading player and can help the team. Intensive play, speed, “leadership” and tackling are among my strengths. I simply feel very comfortable here in the country and in the league.

Transfermarkt: Your former head coach Gerhard Struber signed you immediately after his move to Barnsley. How did that work out back then?

Sollbauer: It was a very special situation. After his transfer from Wolfsberger AC to Barnsley, we kept in touch and when the request from Barnsley and Gerhard Struber came in January 2020, it was immediately clear to me: I want to do that. I am very grateful to Gerhard for putting so much trust in me and pushing hard for my signing.

Transfermarkt: There are several cases in Germany right now of head coaches being bought out of their contracts. It happened the same way with Struber’s move to the New York Red Bulls at the end of 2020. How do you assess this development?

Sollbauer: I think there will be more and more of such head coach transfers in the near future, as it also is the case with players. When coaches do a really good job, they become interesting for higher tasks. That is the way things are in football. The business is very fast-paced – it can change virtually every day.

Transfermarkt: Did you feel a little let down by Struber?

Sollbauer: Not at all. A superb opportunity has opened up for him. Of course, I would have liked to work with him longer. I learned a lot under him – not only on the pitch – and I am really grateful to him for that. We were very successful together, both at Wolfsberg and Barnsley, and we are still in contact. Our paths have parted, but I would be happy if they crossed again – in whatever form.

Transfermarkt: You have not only started to be leader since your move to Barnsley. Can you explain how you earn a position like that?

Sollbauer: I was confronted with it very early in my career. Nenad Bjelica developed me into a captain at Wolfsberg and I was able to learn a lot from Nenad during that time, as well as from some established colleagues at WAC. Since then, I feel very comfortable as a leader. Besides my skills on the pitch, “leadership” is definitely one of my greatest strengths.

Transfermarkt: How do you interpret this term for yourself?

Sollbauer: I have a very good feeling for my colleagues, I know how important a well-functioning group is for success. Everyone in the team has to pursue the same goal, each individual is important for success. On the pitch, I am one of the loudest players, I try to help my teammates and motivate them, so that we as a team reach our limit in every game, every training session.

Transfermarkt: What were the highlights of your time as a player?

Sollbauer: Promotion to the Austrian Bundesliga with Wolfsberger AC and reaching the Europa League group stages with matches against Borussia Dortmund, Mönchengladbach and AS Roma. But also avoiding relegation at the last second last season and reaching the play-offs as a team this season, as well as playing for promotion to the Premier League.

Transfermarkt: And what else is to come?

Sollbauer: At the moment I feel that I am at a very good physical level. I know about my strengths and how to use them to play successfully. I want to play at a high level for a long time to come, I want to learn more every day and I will do everything I can to reach my absolute performance limit. We will see where that is. But I am convinced that I will be playing at a high level for a long time to come.

Interview by Kevin Küper