Roberto De Zerbi spoke of his pride in his players after Albion beat Crystal Palace 4-1 and said that he predicted their emphatic response.
Albion produced the perfect reaction to Tuesday's defeat to Luton and four different players – Lewis Dunk, Jack Hinshelwood, Facundo Buonanotte and Joao – were on the scoresheet at the Amex as Albion rose to seventh in the Premier League table.
He said, “We played very well, and I am very proud of my players. We suffered a lot after the Luton game but today we showed our quality.
“I knew after the Luton game that we would play like we did today – I know my players. I know their human qualities. I believe in them when we win and when we lose and I know how good they are as people.”
Albion led 3-0 at the break with Dunk opening the scoring after two minutes. Palace did get a goal back but Joao rattled in his 17th of the season late on to put the seal on our biggest win in this fixture for 67 years.
“In the first half we played better than in the second,” added De Zerbi. “In the second half we tried to keep the ball when we could have attacked spaces and when we did that we scored again. We have to understand the time when we have to be stronger in attack and in offensive space.”
The only downside was a yellow card for the head coach which means he will serve a touchline ban at Tottenham next Saturday.
“The yellow card was right,” he admitted. “I forgot that with another yellow card I can’t be on the bench at Tottenham but my players can play without their coach there.”