Ruiz relishing Albion's return to the Amex

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We take on Charlton Athletic on Sunday in the WSL.

Bruce Talbot

2026-10-03T06:30+01:00

Arturo Ruiz is pleased with the progress his team have made in recent weeks. 📷Kyle Hemsley

Albion head coach Arturo Ruiz is relishing the prospect of a return to the Amex on Sunday, buoyed by the squad's daily progression and a recent victory over opponents Charlton Athletic.

Reflecting on the 4-0 win over the Addicks in the Subway Players Cup ten days ago, Ruiz praised his team's resilience.

"Our activation level and clarity in all moments were key," Ruiz reflected on his first win as head coach.

"We enjoyed it a lot because it was a home game with our supporters, and we are looking forward to getting a second one on Sunday, although it is not going to be easy."

Despite a frustrating 1-0 defeat in the Players Cup against Tottenham on Wednesday, where a good performance did not yield a goal, the Spanish coach remains thoroughly confident in his attacking players.

He is encouraged by the underlying creativity and the number of opportunities his side is creating.

Fran Kirby's influence on and off the pitch is crucial for head coach Arturo Ruiz. 📷Kyle Hemsley.

"The real problem for a team is if they don't generate finishing situations," he added. "At the minute, we don't have that problem because we create a lot of chances in every single game. We just need to be more concentrated and spend more time together to know how to finish them. Our players will be scoring a lot of goals in the near future."

Ruiz's tenure on the south coast is still in its infancy, and while the opening six matches have presented distinct challenges, he views this adaptation period as a crucial foundational step.

"The results have not been exactly what we expected, but hard beginnings make us value future improvements," he said. "The team is improving a lot daily. Every single game, I see us looking more solid. I am really calm and confident in my team."

A vital component of this transition has been the integration of experienced figures like Fran Kirby. Ruiz highlighted her immense influence both tactically and in the dressing room, noting that her leadership is just as critical as her quality on the pitch.

"It's so big. We have had a really good relationship since the very first moment. We need to manage her load physically and tactically because she is one of our leaders on the pitch. Her leadership is the most important thing, but obviously, as a player, she is absolutely incredible."