Hurzeler: Togetherness is our strength

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This interview with the Albion head coach was published in Saturday's matchday programme.

Bruce Talbot

2025-03-30T06:00+00:00

Fabian Hurzeler's team secured their place in the Emirates FA Cup quarter finals with a 2-1 win at Newcastle United. 📷 by James Boardman.

Head coach Fabian Hurzeler reflects on how our seven-match unbeaten run has been fired by squad unity; why his relationship with the players is as important as his tactical input; and why The FA Cup is such a special competition.

Fabian, the last time we spoke was before the 7-0 defeat to today’s opponents and since then we’ve won six in a row and drawn at the Etihad. What’s been behind the improvement?

Danny Welbeck thanks the travelling fans at the Etihad Stadium after Albion extended their unbeaten run to seven games. 📷 by James Boardman.

I have to say a lot of credit goes to the players because after the Forest game they took a lot of responsibility and said we must go back to the basics, not talking about it but giving our answers on the pitch. For us that means intensity with and without the ball and back to what makes us strong as a club.

Was that something that happened organically or did you prompt it?

I was the man who decided to talk about these things because I think you have to be honest after a big loss and you have to reflect personally and as a group. I tried to talk to everyone and give them the opportunity to share their thoughts – I just listened. And by the Monday after Forest, although we were all disappointed, I had this feeling that we would use this bad experience to show our character, to show how we really stick together.

Were you in any way concerned that there might have been a different reaction?

No, honestly no. I know the group now, I know the individual characters and I know that the club does a lot of research when they recruit players and from day one that the group has a great spirit and togetherness even though we have young and older players and guys from different countries and cultures. Developing that bond we have is not an overnight process and Forest was a good example of how a bad experience is an opportunity to prove yourself as a squad and individuals. When we chatted, the players all told me the same things. They are all individuals with different needs, but the overall message from them was the same. You then have to take that onto the training pitch and the match, and we’ve been able to do that. It’s a process that is ongoing for us.

Building relationships with your players is a big part of your make-up as a coach, isn’t it?

Fabian Hurzeler was always confident that his team could respond in the right way to our defeat at Nottingham Forest. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

For me the mind plays a very big part. I'm interested in this a lot because the mind has so much impact on your behaviour, on your muscles, on your injuries, on how you behave in a group, on how you react to defeats and also how you react when you have a good run of form. It’s the most important thing for me – to really listen to the players and give them the feeling that you want to take care of them and that's what I try to do.

But after a defeat like Forest who puts an arm around your shoulder?

I know that this business is very tough and it's ruthless with a lot of pressure, but I’m not someone who talks a lot about what happened. I'm thinking instead about the next steps. ‘I have a problem, how am I going to fix it?’ But Tony Bloom, Paul Barber and David Weir all sent me supportive messages, they gave me the feeling they really trust and believe in me and in the group. They know the importance of not getting too euphoric after a win or too depressed after a loss. I don’t like unpredictability – I like stability. When I played I hated it when my coach was unpredictable because you never knew what he expected of you.

Onto today’s game. What does The FA Cup mean to you?

Fabian Hurzeler was head coach of St. Pauli for a year and a half. 📷 by St. Pauli.

I compare it with the German Cup, so there's a big tradition, big history, a chance to win a title. And it's always a big honour to play in The FA Cup. I remember that I watched some FA Cup semi-finals, especially when we unfortunately lost to Manchester United in the penalty shoot-out. I love the do-or-die element of a game like today and, of course, the chance to hopefully go on and win a cup at Wembley.

Will what happened at the City Ground have any bearing on today’s game?

You analyse every game, and we can even take some positives from that day, but I’m a great believer in starting from zero. It’s important to reflect, but this is a new game, at a different venue in a different competition.

Bearing in mind the form we’re in, did the international break come at a good time or not?

We’re obviously proud of all our players when they go off to represent their countries, and how they act and then come back and get ready for today is down to the individual: how they prepare mentally, their regeneration, what their physical condition is. For the group the most important thing is that we get our identity back as quickly as possible. I think it will help that we’re not playing a Premier League game – there’s a lot at stake today, not least the chance to play at Wembley.

Finally, the Amex atmosphere has really gone up a notch in recent weeks. How important will the fans be today?

For me the fans are like the 12th player. They have shown already this season that they can create a big, big atmosphere. I think in the last few games, there's been a lot more energy in the stadium than there has been before and that's what we need tonight from the moment we arrive at the Amex, to when we start the warm-up and then coming out of the tunnel and the match itself. That’s what I mean when I talk about our togetherness as a club and what a strength it is. We will need it today against a tough opponent, but I’m sure we’ll be ready for the challenge on the pitch and in the stands.