Gus Poyet said that he expects his players to approach Saturday’s game like any other competitive match, despite their fourth-placed finish confirmed.
The Albion boss told seagulls.co.uk, “Sometimes it can be difficult to prepare mentally during the week for a game like this but on the day of the game, when you have the meeting, the pre-match meal and you’re in the dressing room, it will be like any other football match.
“As soon as you go into the tunnel you want to win and you forget about everything you have done during the week. Then it’s a football game and let’s not forget it’s a game against Wolves, who a year ago were in the Premier League.
“You need to be at your best, you need to compete and you need to make sure that you don’t think about not picking up injuries. There are plenty of things that we can control to a point but then it’s down to the individuals.
“We need to play our game with the best team available because we cannot do any favours when there is a relegation battle.”
Poyet confirmed that his players will return to the pitch after Saturday’s game, to applaud the fans at the Amex, but has urged the supporters not to enter the pitch to preserve the playing surface for the play-off semi-final home fixture.
“At the end of the League One season it was spectacular the way that our fans reacted but I’m asking fans, please stay off the pitch on Saturday.
“We are in a bigger situation where we need the pitch in the best condition possible for the play-off semi-final game. We didn’t train here during the week on purpose, to keep the pitch perfect.
“The fact that we didn’t train here means a lot, and if thousands of people go onto the pitch imagine the damage that will be caused. We will be going against ourselves.
“We will come out and say thanks to all of the supporters and that will give the fans a chance to clap the players too. Then we will see what happens in the semi-final because there could be different emotions.
“This Saturday, please stay in the stands and wait for us to come back out.”
There will be one minute’s applause prior to the kick-off on Saturday in memory of former midfielder, Tony Grealish.
Original article
The Albion boss told seagulls.co.uk, “Sometimes it can be difficult to prepare mentally during the week for a game like this but on the day of the game, when you have the meeting, the pre-match meal and you’re in the dressing room, it will be like any other football match.
“As soon as you go into the tunnel you want to win and you forget about everything you have done during the week. Then it’s a football game and let’s not forget it’s a game against Wolves, who a year ago were in the Premier League.
“You need to be at your best, you need to compete and you need to make sure that you don’t think about not picking up injuries. There are plenty of things that we can control to a point but then it’s down to the individuals.
“We need to play our game with the best team available because we cannot do any favours when there is a relegation battle.”
Poyet confirmed that his players will return to the pitch after Saturday’s game, to applaud the fans at the Amex, but has urged the supporters not to enter the pitch to preserve the playing surface for the play-off semi-final home fixture.
“At the end of the League One season it was spectacular the way that our fans reacted but I’m asking fans, please stay off the pitch on Saturday.
“We are in a bigger situation where we need the pitch in the best condition possible for the play-off semi-final game. We didn’t train here during the week on purpose, to keep the pitch perfect.
“The fact that we didn’t train here means a lot, and if thousands of people go onto the pitch imagine the damage that will be caused. We will be going against ourselves.
“We will come out and say thanks to all of the supporters and that will give the fans a chance to clap the players too. Then we will see what happens in the semi-final because there could be different emotions.
“This Saturday, please stay in the stands and wait for us to come back out.”
There will be one minute’s applause prior to the kick-off on Saturday in memory of former midfielder, Tony Grealish.
Original article