Hurzeler delighted with 'fearless' Gruda

Main Club Sponsor

TICKETS

SHOP

2025-05-22T06:00+01:00

Brajan Gruda created Albion's first goal against Liverpool with a great pass. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

Fabian Hurzeler was delighted with the ‘fearless’ contribution Brajan Gruda made to Monday’s win over Liverpool.

Gruda, who turns 21 on 31 May, has had to be patient for midfield opportunities this season. Having scored his first Premier League goal in the 2-0 win over Wolves, he produced an eye-catching display against the champions including a fine assist when his pass found Yasin Ayari to score Albion’s first goal in the 3-2 win.

Asked what he had told Gruda, the head coach said, “Work hard, keep working hard, stay grounded, stay humble.

“And, if you are on the pitch, play fearlessly. I think it is very important that the players don’t feel any fear, especially the young players so they can perform without any self-doubt, without any fear. That is something we really try to give to the players – an environment where they can really show their full potential.

“It is not only Brajan. It is also a lot of the other young players who showed personality and it is something we really like.”

Photo 1/25

Yasin Ayari, Kaoru Mitoma and Jack Hinshelwood all found the target to keep Albion in the hunt for European football next season, as Fabian Hurzeler's men signed off at the Amex with a 3-2 win.

It was only Gruda’s seventh Premier League start of the season but Hurzeler believes it was inevitable that he would take time to adjust to a new environment.

“I think it is very difficult because we always see the player as a machine who has to perform, who has to work, but there is a person behind the player," he added. "There is someone who has doubts, who has [suffered] adversity. It is so important that we never underestimate the mental side of football.”