EXCLUSIVE
Alex Gersbach believes the expectation of perfection at Rosenborg is ideal for him as he looks to earn a Socceroos recall for Australia's World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia on June 8.
The Australian defender helped Rosenborg to a league-cup double in his first year in Norway, but despite the champions' unbeaten start to the season and a six-point lead after just seven rounds of the Eliteserien, the media and fans have been critical of Kare Ingebrigtsen's side.
Alex Gersbach lifts trophy with Rosenborg
Gersbach has clearly found it an eye-opening experience.
"We won the Super Cup and then we won the first four league games, and with 12 points after four games, top of the league, and the fans weren't happy because we weren't playing particularly well, apparently," he told Goal.
"No, like the rhythm and stuff wasn't quite there but we were winning tough games, which I thought was a good thing, you know, we were winning when we playing bad.
"The last two games have been a little bit better, I think, but the fans put a lot of pressure on the club and they want us to qualify for the Champions League like in the golden days."
Getty
Rosenborg v Molde, Eliteserien
At Rosenborg, domestic success is par for the course.
Rosenborg wins title with Gersbach
The Trondheim-based club have won the past two league titles, while from 1990 to 2010 they won 17 domestic championships, including 13 straight from 1992 onwards.
But Gersbach insists the supporters' expectation of success is "all part of the fun" and good for his personal development.
"I think it's perfect, to be honest," the 20-year-old said.
"You want to be playing at a big club and Rosenborg is a big club. It's the biggest club in Norway and they've got big expectations and big goals, so it's the perfect place to be."
Having been at Rosenborg for almost a year-and-a-half and with his girlfriend having moved to Norway at the start of the year, Gersbach is loving life in the north of Scandinavia.
The only frustration is his current position on the bench, with Gersbach behind new recruit Birger Melling in Ingebrigtsen's pecking order for left-back after starting the Super Cup win over Brann in March and the first four league matches.
Gersbach wins Norwegian Cup with Rosenborg
The ex-Sydney FC defender was part of Ange Postecoglou's extended Socceroos squad for March's World Cup qualifiers against Iraq and United Arab Emirates but missed the final cut, and he knows he needs to be starting for Rosenborg to have the best chance of being included next month.
Alex Gersbach, Australia
"I've been struggling a little bit with a hamstring problem but it hasn't stopped me from training or playing," Gersbach said.
"I played the Super Cup and started the first four league games and my form wasn't great, to be honest, but we won those four games and then I was dropped for the fifth game and I came on after about 15 minutes and played the rest of that game, and I thought that was probably my best game of the season so far.
"Then I wasn't picked the next weekend, which was a bit disappointing, but that's part of it being at a big club. You know, you've really got to fight for your position."
Rosenborg visit third-place Stabaek on Saturday.
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=640&quality=60)
