Hurzeler: Everyday I enjoy working with Mitoma

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The Japan international has been a key player for our German head coach.

Charlie Hanson

2024-09-27T06:00+01:00

Kaoru Mitoma has started every Premier League game for Albion so far this campaign. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Fabian Hurzeler has said that despite his incredible ability, Kaoru Mitoma is constantly in search of ways to improve his game.

The Japan international put in an impressive performance in our last outing against Nottingham Forest, having already notched a goal and an assist so far this campaign.

“I’ve enjoyed working with him from the first day because he's a great guy,” Hurzeler said in his press conference on Thursday. “He’s very humble and trying to do everything to improve.

“I think after his injury last season he needed a little bit of time to come back, to find his old shape, but we don't put a lot of pressure on him. He knows best what to do to get back to his best shape.

“He's getting better game by game. In the end, we want him to score and make assists. He had some great chances in the last games – he was a bit unlucky, but he keeps trying.

“He's always there on the second post. He tries to have the easy tap-in, but he also tries to go one-against-one and take a shot at goal.

“He's very flexible. He's improving his crosses. I think it's still a process and a development, but I'm very happy with his situation, the shape he is in at the moment. But we still try to improve in every phase of the game.”

Mitoma’s touch and dribbling ability are some of his standout attributes, but there remains room for improvement according to his head coach.

“I think in some ways his first touch is special, but it's also a thing where I'm convinced you can train [to improve]. So how you pass, how you take the first touch, and if you do a lot of this exercise in training, I think you can improve.

“But of course, Mitoma is an outstanding player. He's a player who can make the difference, and the thing is he wants to improve. He doesn't say, ‘I'm finished with my development’. He's still searching for potentials. That's what is really impressive with him.”