Konstantin Kerschbaumer admitted that his first season in English football had been a difficult one but the Austrian midfielder said that he wants to make the most of the opportunity afforded to him by Alan Judge’s injury and end the year well. The 23-year-old midfielder played his first match in more than a month last Saturday, replacing the injured Judge early on, in The Bees 3-1 win at Portman Road. Now, as he looks set to fill the void left by the Irishman’s absence, Kerschbaumer wants to put his previous frustrations behind him and show fans what he can do.
“I want to play more and I want to show more now that I have got some confidence,” said Konstantin, speaking to Bees Player ahead of the match. “It was a really good performance from the whole team against Ipswich. Everyone felt it and we stuck together. As a team we play good football and that is my strength. I think that we are keeping the ball well and are in a good shape. Playing on the wing is a new position for me but I think that I have put in some good performances there. I was a little unlucky not to score or get an assist but on Saturday I got an assist and that gave me confidence. For a player confidence is a massive thing. If you aren’t playing then you can’t get that from training because as hard as you work games are much different. If you can score, make an assist, or put in a good performance it makes a big difference.”
Since joining in the summer from Austrian top division side Admira Wacker, Kerschbaumer has struggled to hold down a starting spot. The dynamic midfielder has made just 14 starts this campaign and admits that it has been a topsy-turvy year for him.
“I have had up and downs this year,” said Konstantin. “We have had three different managers. When I first came in I was a regular player under Marinus Dijkhuizen. We didn’t play so bad but the results were not so good. Lee Carsley came in, he changed some things and we had a good run. I always came on from the bench so I was involved in every game. Then Dean came in and results were not so good so there were another couple of changes and I didn’t play as much. Now I am happy to get the opportunity to play again and show what I can.”
The Tulln-born midfielder admitted it had been difficult not to start every game, something he had been used to at his previous clubs, however he knew that he had to keep working hard in training and his time would come.
“It is very difficult because this is the first time in my career that I am not playing: at my former clubs I was a regular player and a key player,” said Konstantin. “It is always good for you personally to know every situation and there have been new experiences. It was very tough because you train every day and work hard but then you don’t get the minutes on the pitch. When it changes you have to show what you can. Dean said that I needed to keep going and that I always trained very well. I needed to keep doing that and then I would get the chance to play.”
Bees Player subscribers can watch the full interview with Konstantin below