– It feels good to give something back – VG

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– The whole team has a fantastic relationship with the fans. The supporters have been fantastic throughout, says the Brann coach to VG.

The Brann supporters could once again cheer afterwards The 2–1 victory against Stabæk on Sunday. The season has been outstanding. After 19 series rounds, Brann is unbeaten in the OBOS league.

– It was a difficult time for the supporters last year, first with a lot of commotion after the summer, and then the relegation. It feels good to give something back, says Horneland.

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It stormed more than usual in last year’s Brann season. “Aftermath scandals” in late summer topped off a disastrous season.

– It was a difficult time for everyone, says Horneland, when he is asked to reflect on the period.

Horneland found the players’ scandal party so bad that he considered quitting the day.

– “Damn it, I don’t want to do this”, I thought then. What happened was so against everything I stand for that it made me wonder if I was able to compose myself to be the right man for the player group going forward, Horneland told The Bergen newspaper.

A bad season ended in relegation, after they lost to Jerv in the qualifying round. Many believed that the Brann coach had to be fired after the relegation.

– Right then and there I thought it was completely wrong to keep him. After all, he sent Brann down, and then maybe you should think completely anew, says Brann supporter Kjetil Lilletvet.

Horneland himself was convinced that he could lose his job.

– If someone thinks I should take responsibility, then I have no problems with taking responsibility either, Horneland added The online newspaperwhen relegation was a fact.

Most people in Bergen are glad that didn’t happen.

– I was skeptical, but he has convinced me. He has delivered very well, says Lilletvet.

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Ole Didrik Blomberg gives Horneland much of the credit for this year’s success.

– He knows what it’s like to work with people, he brings out the best in the players. He has been incredibly important to us, says Ole Didrik Blomberg to VG.

Horneland’s coaching style still took some time for him to get used to.

– Horneland is a slightly unorthodox coach. He stands and gabbles on the sidelines until he loses his voice. I’ve never had a coach like that before. He is the type he is, and it has worked, says Blomberg, with a smile.

Brann supporter Jørn Eriksen is particularly impressed by how Horneland coped with the storm last year.

– The way he handled the scandals, and how he managed to bring the team together, and was honest. He brought together both teams, the city and supporters in a very nice way. So he thinks I’m a bit of a pillar here, says Eriksen.

– He is good at getting people to go in the same direction, and there is no doubt that Brann needs that. Because if there’s something we’ve struggled with, it’s going one way and creating results together, says Brann supporter Urhaug.

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After the victory against Stabæk, they now have a 17-point margin down to the promotion qualification places.

And as always when Brann wins, it doesn’t take long before they get the momentum of elite series gold.

– We will see if he is the right type to make a gold team eventually, says Urhaug, with a twinkle in his eye.

See more statistics for the Eliteserien on VG Live.–