Georginio: We can break into the top six

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

Frenchman has high hopes for Albion's season.

Nick Szczepanik

2024-11-15T06:00+00:00

Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck have formed a good attacking partnership. 📷 by James Boardman.

Georginio Rutter expects Albion to target a regular place in the top six after the international break.

The ever-smiling Frenchman is enjoying life on the coast after his move from Leeds United in the summer and he has struck up a good understanding with Danny Welbeck. And he insists there is more to come.

“For me we started very well and we have a good potential to perform every week and be in the top six of the Premier League,” he said. “We are a bit disappointed because we lost some points against some teams this season that we shouldn’t. But that is football and we have to work more and try to do less mistakes and go forward.

“It’s frustrating because we want points to stay high up in the table. Unfortunately we didn’t but the season is long so we have time. But we have to take more points by the end of the season.”

Georginio Rutter has quickly become a popular member of the Albion squad. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

His partnership with Danny Welbeck developed quickly. “It’s something that was natural. On the pitch I try to find him because I know in the box he’s a very good striker and if I can do it that’s good for him. In training we are both most of the time in the same positions so we work hard for the weekend and what we want to try to do in the games.”

With Evan Ferguson, Joao Pedro and Julio Enciso fit again, he may find himself working in other attacking systems, of course. “Yes, but they are good players with good potential and we have to adapt to everybody. Good players can always adapt to other good players and I try to do that. Although sometimes it’s difficult because sometimes Julio goes on the pitch when I’m coming off! But in training we try to work together and that’s what we have to do.”

Only 22, he was already familiar with some of the demands of English football thanks to his time at Elland Road, although he feels he has stepped up a level.

Georginio Rutter joined Albion from Leeds United in the summer. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

“I settled quickly and that helped me,” he says. “The guys here are very good, good staff, good people. There’s more intensity here and I’ve played in the Championship, in France and in the Bundesliga and it’s totally different, certainly more than the Championship. But for me it was a good opportunity to come here and I’m enjoying my football.”

Georginio has the sort of outgoing personality that quickly wins a crowd over, and his insistence on Matt O’Riley celebrating properly in front of the North Stand after the victory over Manchester City delighted the fans. He even enjoys media duties!

Georginio had to give Matt O'Riley a bit of an education as to how to celebrate at the end of the City game. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

“I’m a footballer so I’m always here for this because it’s part of our job,” he says. “It’s important for the fans as well to know what we do or what we think because they can’t ask us some questions that we can answer.

“Of course I try to enjoy myself because it’s football, you know? It’s been my passion since I’m young so you have to enjoy it. I’m not going to be sad on the pitch, it would be a shame. No, I try to be happy and enjoy my football every time.”