Hurzeler on international break, Ipswich Town and start to the season

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Albion head into Saturday's game unbeaten in the Premier League so far this campaign.

Charlie Hanson

2024-09-14T06:00+01:00

Fabian Hurzeler has been impressed by Ipswich Town. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Men's first team head coach Fabian Hurzeler reflected in his pre-match press conference on a busy international break for his players, as well facing Ipswich Town on Saturday looking to continue our excellent start to the Premier League campaign.

How useful are international breaks for you as a coach. Do players come back in a positive mindset?

"I hope that it's useful but I think they gained a lot of self-confidence with their debuts or with our [two] victories. It's not only about the victories, but also that they put in good performances.

"So I don't only look at the results from the games, I look at the individual performance because that has to be good and they gain self confidence.

"I think that all of them made a good impression. We can mention every name, but [Carlos] Baleba and Tariq Lamptey collected a lot of game time so that's very positive.

Fabian Hurzeler speaks to the media ahead of Ipswich Town's visit to the Amex.

"On top of that my assistant coach Crofty [Andrew Crofts] made his [coaching] debut for Wales. He's also in good shape now, he didn't lose a game! I'm really looking forward to see his power and his energy back in the environment here.

"Now we have to find togetherness really quickly and hopefully we can manage it for Saturday."

How different is Manchester United at home to playing a newly promoted team in terms of the expectations of fans and players?

The expectations are always the same – to go out on the pitch and to show the basic things. The basic things are what you can influence: winning personal duels, running more than the opponent, doing more high speed metres than the opponent. These are all things you can influence.

A look back at wonder strikes from Ashley Barnes, Sam Baldock and Joao Teixeira.

"That's what I demand from my team to do in every game, no matter if you play against Manchester United or Ipswich. Of course, maybe from outside the expectations are that we have to win these games. And in the end, we are very ambitious and if you are ambitious you have to deal with this pressure and the expectations from outside.

"That's a new challenge for us and I'm looking forward to doing this with my team because I'm convinced that we are ready for this. But my players know this will be a different challenge and we are trying to go for it."

When you reflected on the opening weeks, was it largely positive or did you identify areas to improve?

"There are always positives and negatives. I think without negative feedback or reflection you won’t develop as a person and as a coach. That is why you have to be hard on yourself but sometimes not too hard on yourself! There has to be a good balance.

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Fabian Hurzeler and his coaching staff were putting the final touches to their preparations ahead of the visit of newly promoted Ipswich Town in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. Club photographer Paul Hazlewood was at the training complex to capture some pictures from the session.

"You have to be honest with yourself and try to develop in every part of your job. Being a football coach is not only about being on the pitch. It is how you treat your staff members and how you integrate in the whole club. But you can always improve.

"That is why I try to reflect as honestly as I can and try to improve in every part."