Fabian Hurzeler is determined to shed the clubâs "nice" reputation and transform the Amex Stadium into a fortress ahead of tonight's UEFA Conference League clash with Lithuanian side Kauno Zalgiris.
With six fixtures in a demanding 17-day stretch, including a Premier League home game with Crystal Palace on Sunday, Hurzeler confirmed that squad rotation is likely in Albionâs first game in the Conference League. Â
However, he views this as a reward for hard work in training rather than simple management of minutes during a hectic schedule.
"The focus is fully on tonight because it's a big game for us," Hurzeler said. "Regarding the starting XI, of course we try to manage players. We try to manage energy, so there will definitely be some changes. All the change we will make are a great opportunity for the players. They deserve it because they show a really good impact in training and a really good impact when they come on the pitch."
Zalgiris arrive in Sussex riding high after lifting the Lithuanian Cup on Sunday. Hurzeler expects a resilient and confident opponent.
"The Europe games are different," he explained. "In the Premier League, you know what you can expect from the opponent. In Europe, they come from a different league, a different culture. Every club who has the right to play in the Conference League has quality, and therefore you can't underestimate anyone,â he added.
Hurzeler anticipates a tactical challenge that will test his side at both ends of the pitch. "We expect a team that has a lot of confidence, that defends well in a low block, are good in transition, that also have players who want to play football. It's not only that they will come and sit back. It won't be a game where we only attack. We also have to defend well."
For Albion, the competition represents a stage to maintain their excellent start to the season which sees us third in the Premier League and through to the last 16 of the Carabao Cup.Â
"It's not about maintaining our level," he stressed. "It's really about improving and using this opportunity tonight to improve our performance, try to get better every day."
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He is actively calling on the squad and the supporters to make the Amex an intimidating, uncompromising venue for visiting teams.
"We want to keep building our fortress at home," Hurzeler stated. "We want to keep building this image where we're just difficult to beat at home, where it's a tough, also a little bit (of a) 'dirty' place to go because of the environment we create, together with our fans."
While praising the club's celebrated recruitment and structural organisation, the head coach made it clear that a stronger competitive edge is required to take the next step.Â
"These kinds of things don't help you to win anything," he added. "With nice, you win nothing. You also need to have the mindset of 'alright, we are difficult to beat'. We want to be ruthless. We want to create this energetic atmosphere where it makes it so hard to come to this place. We have to keep building this together with our fans and not be the nice football club anymore."