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Michael Skubala speaks on his decision to leave Lincoln and reveals his plans for Bristol City

Michael Skubala speaks on his decision to leave Championship new boys Lincoln City and reveals his plans for fellow league side Bristol City.

This week, he’s spoke to the club media and Bristol Live a number of different topics.

Skubala has received plenty of praise from fans for giving a refreshing interview, despite some fans feeling ‘on the fence’ regarding his appointment. But his words winning fans round.

In an interview with the club, the first question was put to him: “First of all, how’s your first day been?”

He said: “Came in this morning getting to know some brilliant staff at the training grounds in the centre. Um, but yeah, whirlwind to start, but yeah, what amazing club and just really happy to be here and looking forward to and excited to get going.”

Interviewer: “And what was it about Bristol City which made you want to join the club?”

Skubala: “I think when you have an opportunity to to come to Bristol City and you look further into the club, you know that it’s got a rich history. Unbelievable fan base. Wherever I’ve worked at clubs, I think the fans are so important and when I’ve been here or heard about Bristol City, how passionate they are about the club. But also when you look at, you know, the ownership and what they’re trying to achieve and for me to to come and help with that and and drive that and lead that is really exciting. I think in my last role trying to get a club promoted into this division was a you know a great achievement. To do something here with Bristol City would be amazing. And and then when you look at you know the changes in Charlie and James Ellis coming into the building it’s a really exciting time for the club and to be a part of that is yeah just something special. I’m just buzzing to get going.”

Interviewer: “And you mentioned that it’s been a bit of a whirlwind. Can you talk to us about how this came about?”

Skubala: “Well yeah that’s football isn’t it? I think at the end of the season you know I suppose it’s it’s the nature of football things happen quite quickly but when we finished the season last season it came about and it was something I’d really wanted to to speak to the club about which is which is great. I had the opportunity before that, cause we were going so well at my previous club to if you like talk to other clubs but I wanted to finish the job. I went into that club with a the ambition to get that club promoted. So when this came about at the end of the season, it was really nice to speak to to everybody at the club and hear about the ideas and and where where we’d like to take the club together. Went through a process that, you know, which was great, and just really looking forward to get going because I think it’s got everything here to be a really special club, and for me to come in and like I say, be a part of that and and try and build something here for the future is yeah, is really exciting.”

Interviewer: “And can you tell us a bit about those conversations that you had with James Ellis, Charlie Boss, and and the board?”

Skubala: “Yeah. Well, first of all, I think that it was really really exciting about what they wanted to achieve, really clear and and how we were going to do it. You know, when you look at the board, it’s really agile with Richard Scudamore coming on the board, which I think is a great appointment for the club. When you look at, you know, the Lansdowns and how passionate they are about the club and what they’ve put into the club over the years and, you know, all the different facilities and buildings in in Bristol is is amazing. And then you see the passion of the fans and you hear that all together and then you see Charlie coming into the club as you know a new CEO here and running the business, of course James with his experiences from Arsenal and you know player trading and how we can work and how we can move forward. I think when you look at all those jigsaw pieces together, the conversations about how we can move this club forward and how we can attack if you like the future and of course football takes time and it’s not going to be overnight, but I do think it’s on a on a really good trajectory if you like to go and move forward and like I say to come and be a big part of that and and to bring my experiences and and to lead a group of young men that will be that a team is proud of seeing on the pitch is really exciting for me.”

Interviewer: “And it would be remiss not to mention Lincoln City. A wonderful season last time out. Can you tell us a bit about that journey with the club and the achievement?”

Skubala: “Yeah, first of all, I loved my time at Lincoln City and before that I was at Leeds United. I loved my time at Lead United and when I went into Lincoln, it was, you know, everybody sees the last season, but actually in the first season, we had to build something. We had to start to progress. I think we went 16 game unbeaten in that season. So, it’s never in football an overnight thing. We need, you know, patience and time and we can build something special here as well. But really good group of staff, you know, developed a really good group of staff there, an ex exceptional group of players um that we built something there and as everybody knows, we had a great season, but again, I wanted to make sure that my job there was to get that team promoted. We had a plan to do it in 5 years. We did it in three, which was great and now I’m really excited to get going with Bristol City and then try and achieve something special here. And you know to go with Lincoln and get them into the Championship for the first time in 65 years and lead that and develop the staff behind it and develop the the players into that was was special. But every story comes to an end at some point, a chapter here for myself let’s go and do this with Bristol City and get them up.”

Interviewer: “How much are you looking forward to the Championship and playing here at Ashton Gate?”

Skubala: “Yeah, yeah really looking forward to meeting the fans. I’ll try and get out and, you know, connect with some of the fans into the city cause I’ve been here a couple of times and I know it’s an amazing city, amazing place for for people to live. And again, I know, you know, I’ve worked with a couple of players who from this area and they’re so passionate about the team themselves, even though they probably don’t play for that team but I’m really looking forward to coming out in Ashton Gate and and and seeing the fans. But again, they’re the heartbeat of the city and the club. And I always say that football’s about two groups of people. It’s about the players and the fans. And if I can help to connect the players with the fans, then we’ll be in a really good spot.”

Interviewer: “And you’ve mentioned them there, but this is the first time they will hear from you. Have you got one last message for them?”

Skubala: “Rome wasn’t built in a day. I always say it. It’s not a revolution, it’s an evolution, but you know, I think that fans can be a really big part of what we do, they’re not there just to spectate. They’re there to help us. They’re here to drive us. They’re here to help get performances on the pitch. And I know that already. I look at the attendances towards the last end of the season. They were amazing. You know, for a team that are not in the playoffs or or no jeopardy on what they do and they still come and support their team through thick and thin and I think that’s really credit to them, but they’re definitely going to be part of what we do here and it’s from me it’s a a thank you already for supporting us and and yeah, let’s get going.”

On his success with Lincoln, Skubala said to Bristol Live: “I think everybody looks to last season as the season because, naturally, it was an amazing season. What we did there to get the team promoted for the first time in 65 years was an unbelievable achievement, and how we did it as well, with 29 games unbeaten, we didn’t want the season to end.

“But it was built on day one of me going into the club; it wasn’t built on last season. Everything was being built over the years.

“It takes time. It takes windows, it takes methodology of how we want to be and how we want to find ways to win football matches in that league. Finding how we do that and be successful while doing that, it takes time.

“We were fortunate to have that time at Lincoln. Again, it was an amazing achievement to do that, but it was a project that evolved, not revolutionised. I keep saying that: it’s about evolution, not revolution, and it’s about consistency.

“We did lose one or two. I wasn’t happy with that!

“I think when you’re in it, my nature is that I just want to go and win the next game. When you’re actually in it, you don’t reflect on what you’re doing until it’s done and it’s finished.

“I think that’s why it’s important to breathe after a season because when we’re pushing, trying to get promoted, trying to win football matches, and at the top of the league, going away to Cardiff and beating Cardiff, you’re not quite there. When you’re in it, it’s just the relentless nature that I try to bring. Every day, we’re just trying to improve. There’s no doubt about it.

“Everyone looks and says that it’s an amazing achievement for me, but the players did it. It’s the players’ game; they had an amazing season.

“Whilst you’re in it, it’s just relentless; but that’s me. I think that’s what I do. I like to be relentless, I like to work hard, I like to make sure there’s no stone unturned in terms of how we want to be and how we win football matches.

“Hopefully, that work ethic is what I’ll bring to Bristol City.”

On what Skubala’s Bristol City side could look like: “I think, if you were to put managers in buckets, I’m probably one of the more adaptable coaches that tries to find a way to get the best out of the players. But it is underlined with really strong principles.

“Those principles are around how we want to look, how we want to play, our intensity with front-footed, aggressive football that you can be proud of when you see the team.

“The tactical nuances that you’re probably talking about can change and shift for me a little bit more, and we’ll be looking to build a squad around that so we can find a Bristol City way of playing.”

On futsal and how it will play a part in his style: “There will be influences from there. I can’t say they’re the same game, because they’re not, but there will be influences around things that I would like.

“I do think it’s more a foreign sport, so it’s more akin to some of the foreign coaches who will be used to it and know it. It’s very big in Spain and places like that, so all the coaches that work in football there already know it.

“It’s maybe given me a little bit of an edge in some ways. But again, it is different so I’ve got to be careful.”

He spoke on looking beyond the first team: “I think if you look at my history, I’ve always tried to develop young talent.

“I love them because they’re fearless. Young players can be fearless, and I think if you can put young talent on the pitch with experience, it’s the best blend.

“If we can do that here, and get the young players through the system – and I know the club’s history with Alex Scott, Antoine Semenyo, Bobby De Cordova-Reid and countless other players they’ve brought through the club in recent times – it’s really important to the club.

“But, again, that’s why it’s exciting to me because it’s important to me as well. When I was at Leeds, I first brought Archie Gray into the Under-21s as a 16-year-old, and to see him progress and play for the first team, and go to Tottenham, to see players I worked with at England become really top players, I just love seeing it. I stay in contact with a lot of those players.

“Football’s a really tough industry to be in as young men, so they have to be ready, but there are probably no greater advocate for young talent than myself.

“If we can put a structure in place that allows young talent to flourish here, why wouldn’t I want that? Why wouldn’t the fans want that? Everybody wants that.”

Looking ahead to the new season, Skubala said the aim is to… “Win. It’s really important to have two lanes: the slow lane with the strategy over the years, but also, we live in the fast lane as football players and managers, so it’s really important that we hit the ground running.

“In terms of this season, it’s to go out and try and win every game. That might sound nuts, but I try to put a team on the pitch that can win, can be competitive, and I want to do that every game this season. We’ll do that, and then I think you can build something.

“If you can get some momentum and consistency, things start to roll, and that will be the ambition this season.

“I spoke to a couple of the lads about last season, and I think it was Middlesbrough away where they scored late,” he continues. “You saw the togetherness of the team and those things for me, they’re really important to see.

“When I was looking into it and assessing the group and the games, there’s definitely some real desire here in the group to want to win, desire to improve and desire to get promoted. You need that in a playing group, and I can assure you after some of the discussions I’ve had with the players already, they’re chomping at the bit to get going again.

“That’s why I’m here: to try and get this club to the next level,” Skubala concludes. “I think it’s got everything behind the scenes: the structure we’ve spoken about, the training ground is amazing, and the fanbase is unbelievable.

“That’s why I’m here, to try and get this club to the next level.”

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