Roberto De Zerbi believes Albion’s new head of medial can make a difference next season.

The impending arrival of Florian Pfab from Eintracht Frankfurt is among the reasons the head coach is optimistic.

Albion continue their run-in today as they take on Aston Villa at the Amex (2pm).

De Zerbi’s men have slipped to 13th in the table after a poor recent run.

Asked whether he was more optimistic about the coming campaign, he replied: “Yes. First of all because we have a new doctor coming, a top doctor, and I think he can make a difference. We suffered a lot this area this season.

“It’s not controversial to say that if you have Mitoma and March fit, I go from my house to the ground happy and looking forward to starting the game.

“The same for the fans, for the owner, for everyone.

“If you ask me are Adingra and Buonanotte worse than Mitoma and March, then I say honestly ‘no’.

“But at this moment they are completely different players.

“To improve the level of Adingra and Buonanote, then March and Mitoma need to play at this moment.

“Improvement can come on the pitch but sometimes you can lose if you are not 100% ready to compete at the right level."

De Zerbi also said he will be a better coach for his experiences this season.

He added: “I have learned a lot of things. You can learn in every day and every situation, when you win or when you lose.

“But I think when you lose the improving you make is more important, it’s stronger.

“I think we have been unlucky this year and for sure I made mistakes.

“But I made mistakes because I want to fix the target high. Maybe I fixed it too high.”

De Zerbi felt his side could reach the last four of the Europa League and FA Cup s well as competing strongly for a European place.

He said: “That’s part of myself. I want to be happy in the morning.

“If I want to be happy I have to set the target higher to motivate myself.

“And, if I am motivated, I can motivate my players. Otherwise it’s tough.”

The Albion coach has seen the glowing praise he received until not long ago turn unto criticism from some quarters in recent times.

He said: “If you win and you look in the mirror, you look handsome.

“If you lose, you are stupid.

“Now, I have a bad press conference about my club, I change the keepers every day, ‘we can’t play in build-up because we are losing too many balls’.

“Before it was ‘spectacular build-up’. “