Midfielder talks about Mel's first training session as Albion's new head coach
YOUSSOUF Mulumbu reckons the players are in for one of the hardest week’s training of the season as Pepe Mel gets to work stamping his mark on the team.
The new Baggies head coach took his first training session yesterday and the DR Congo international revealed how it went.
“This will probably be the hardest week of the season but that’s what you expect when you have a new head coach,” said Mulumbu.
“It was quite exciting.
“He’s Spanish so obviously he wants to play good football.
“He showed us the tactics he wants to put in and we just worked as usual.
“He wants to change the mentality – go forward, play good football.
“For the first session we all expect to see how he wants us to use the ball, how he wants us to play.
“We need to be ready for Everton.”
The 50-year-old Spaniard is learning English and will be assisted by an English-speaking member of staff.
During yesterday’s training session Baggies Director of Technical Performance and Scouting Dave McDonough translated, with Mulumbu revealing Argentinian Claudio Yacob and Diego Lugano, of Uruguay, also helped out with instructions.
“It’s hard for him because he doesn’t speak English but football is, as they say, a universal language,” added Mulumbu.
“I am quite excited. We just need the confidence and we know we can be a good side.
“We have some great players to go forward. It will be a great test against Everton to see whether we can answer the questions on Monday.
“He tried to translate his messages through Claudio and Diego - but it’s easy when you play football.”