Interviews

Webster: De Zerbi will take us to new level

Defender confident Albion will continue good form under the Italian.

By Charlie Hanson • 29 September 2022

By Paul Hazlewood
Adam Webster is in his fourth season with Albion.

Adam Webster is sure Albion can continue to build in the right direction under Roberto De Zerbi.

The 27-year-old is aware of the demands the head coach has liked to put on his defenders in possession at previous clubs and is relishing the opportunity to do that in an Albion shirt.

“You always want to play in teams that are in possession, that control the game and I feel like we’re going to go to a new level with that. It suits us – Dunky, Joel and me are all comfortable in possession, we love to have the ball and it’s music to our ears. Hopefully it will help us all improve.

By Paul Hazlewood
Roberto De Zerbi watches his players in action on the training pitch.

“I am sure over time he will implement what he wants to, but it’s been weird as not everyone has been here because of the international break and we won’t have too many sessions all together before the game against Liverpool.”

The game against the Reds this Sunday kicks off a tough October, as we also face the likes of Spurs, Manchester City and Chelsea.

“We’ve got some of the big team in October, but they’re the games you look forward to at the start of the season. We always seem to do quite well against the big teams and we want that to continue.

“Come the end of October and the break for the World Cup, hopefully we’re in a good place and can really kick on.

“We’ve been working as hard as we can to keep ourselves ticking over and ready for October, because it’s a busy month. It wasn’t ideal to have such a big break, but the lads are raring to go.”

By Paul Hazlewood
De Zerbi has had the opportunity to work with the players who aren't on international duty.

Webster isn’t anticipating wholesale changes under the new head coach, who he says inherits a well aligned group.

“Normally when a new head coach comes in it’s because a team is struggling and then there’s pressure to come in and get results. But this situation doesn’t happen often.

“We’re in a very good place, we’ve got very good cohesion in the group so it’s just about how he can take that forward for us.

“Because of the international break we’ve had a small squad training but it gives the gaffer and his staff more time to settle in which is good.”