Club News

Mulumbu's a happy Baggie!

Midfielder says he has never felt more 'comfortable' at The Hawthorns

YOUSSOUF Mulumbu says he has never felt more ‘comfortable’ at Albion as he prepares to embark on his fourth full season at the club against Liverpool tomorrow (ko 3pm).

The Baggies midfielder is hoping to build on an impressive two Barclays Premier League campaigns in a team he feels has matured nicely during his time at The Hawthorns.

He is eager to lay down an early marker against the Reds as he predicts a bright future under new head coach Steve Clarke.

“Every morning when I come in to training, I am happy,” said Mulumbu.

“The new gaffer wants to play football, I have a smile on my face, and I know the Birmingham area.

“I’m happy at West Brom and I hope they are happy with me.

“I think I will be a better player this season because I don’t feel the pressure now.

“I think I play better when I have a free mind – and I’m confident.

“I think I have had two good seasons in the Premier League.

“The first full season I was a little bit scared, but it was more exciting because I played 35 games and scored seven goals.

“Last season, I played some good games but it was a little bit harder because I put pressure on myself to live up to the previous season.

“I think I had too many questions in my mind.

“I think this season will be better because I don’t really feel any pressure and I know what’s coming.

“I just need to focus and concentrate.

“I think the strength of West Brom is that we keep our good players and we know each other well.

“Several of the players in this team have grown up together.

“We’re not the young players we used to be in the Championship.

“We have experience now and I’m excited to see how we start this season.

“We’ve also brought some good players in, like Romelu, Markus and Yassine who, when you see them in training, you enjoy.

“I feel comfortable with this team.”

The DR Congo international is also eager to stress his commitment to the club after what he claims were misleading reports about his future appeared on the internet earlier this summer.

“A journalist asked me ‘what am I going to do next season?’ and I said that there was some interest in me – but I never said I was talking to anyone,” Mulumbu insisted.

“He asked me for some examples of clubs that were interested and I answered who I thought were interested.

“He then wrote something else that I never said.

“It was never the case that I wanted to leave.

“When you play football, you like it when clubs are interested in you – but it doesn’t mean you want to leave.

“It was a misunderstanding.

“When you see me training and playing, I won’t change.”

Mulumbu added: “I give everything for my team.

“West Brom have given me everything, the opportunity to play regularly in the Premier League, to be the player I am today.

“And the fans are right behind me, especially with the song that I love."

The former PSG man expects Brendan Rodgers' side to arrive in the Black Country looking for revenge after Albion ended a 45-year wait for a win on Liverpool soil in April.

Mulumbu was key to that 1-0 victory as his bustling play set-up Peter Odemwingie’s decisive goal.

“I think they’ll be out for revenge,” he added.

“I’m sure they will press us high because they know we can play good football.

“We won at Anfield and we also won two seasons’ ago at home when Brunty scored two penalties.

“But anything can happen in the first game of the season.

“Two years ago, we lost at Chelsea 6-0 and everyone was saying we were going down – but we finished 11th.

“We just have to be ready.

“I think it will be a great game because both teams play football.

“And it’s a great chance to show what we’re going to be about this season, in front of our fans.”