Carlos Corberan issues glowing verdict of West Brom player with “excellent mentality” | OneFootball

West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan has been full of praise for experienced Baggies defender Erik Pieters.

Having played left-back or left-wing-back for the majority of his career, the 34-year-old has filled in at centre-back for the club’s last two matches, with Semi Ajayi and Kyle Bartley both currently out injured.

Speaking about Pieters filling in, Corberan praised the way the veteran defender trains everyday, and says that with players like him in the squad, the team will always grow.

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“I think only the first 15 minutes of the previous [match v Sunderland] game it took some time for him to adapt,” explained the Baggies boss, via the Express and Star.

“After these 15 minutes to today he was doing things that I value a lot – with the ball and without the ball. Today he was playing with a level of concentration that make him someone different.

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“He’s one player for me with excellent condition with the ball and with excellent mentality.

“Because, he trains like he is only 18 years old, he’s 34 with a lot of experience in the Premier League.

“He’s an example of someone who is not going to be watching his past, but trying to improve every single training day.

“When you are working with players like him, always the team will grow.”

The Verdict

Erik Pieters felt like a fairly insignificant signing at West Brom back in the summer.

However, going off of these comments by Carlos Corberan, the experienced defender has plenty to offer the Baggies both on the pitch and off it.

The Spaniard has done an excellent job at the Hawthorns since taking the reigns permanently recently.

With a game in hand against Coventry tomorrow night over most above them, the Baggies could go within two points of Queens Park Rangers in sixth and the Championship play-off places.

Prior to Corberan taking over that felt very unlikely, but the club have a very realistic chance of competing for that top six spot come the end of the season.