Carlos Corberán believes it’s his responsibility as the head coach to “adapt” and find the “right solutions” to the injury difficulties Albion are coming up against.
The Baggies have endured horrendous luck so far this term, with several senior players missing a number of matches with various complaints.
Corberán has been without the likes of summer signings Josh Maja and Jeremy Sarmiento, top goalscorer John Swift, winger Grady Diangana, defenders Semi Ajayi and Conor Townsend and midfielder Adam Reach already in 2023/24, as well as long-term absentees Daryl Dike and Martin Kelly.
But the boss insists injuries cannot be used as an excuse and emphasised the importance of “desire” within the group when facing these types of situations.
He said: “Football changes, and you have to be able to change.
“The same adaptability you talk about during matches is the same adaptability you need to have when you’re preparing for matches.
“Before the season even started, we knew we would have a squad which doesn’t have many, many options in each position.
“Our desire to win has to be able to beat any type of difficulty we are facing. In this case, it’s a big number of injuries. That, for me, is the most important thing.
“As a staff and a coaching staff, we need to give the best of ourselves and take responsibility.
“As the coach, I have to find the solutions to the challenges and the players have to be able to make it work in the games. Just because we have players missing doesn’t mean we cannot show the best of ourselves.”
Albion’s next test off the pitch sees them take on last season’s beaten play-off finalists Coventry City on Monday night.
The Sky Blues have suffered two away losses on the bounce without scoring, but at home, they’re enjoying a run of 10 matches without defeat.
Corberán says he has tremendous respect for Mark Robins, the Sky Bet Championship’s longest-serving manager, and admitted the clash at the CBS Arena is going to be a very challenging one.
“I have a lot of respect for Mark Robins as a coach because for me, what he has done, being promoted from League One and then taking Coventry so close to the Premier League, is excellent.
“The level of football that this team has been playing, not just this year and last year, but the previous years before that, has been brilliant.
“They are a very dangerous side. They got very close to the Premier League last year, and yes, they have lost some players, but they have also added some very good players in their place.
“They haven’t lost at home yet this season. When you analyse their results, they’ve not lost any of their last 10 home games. It shows just how challenging the game is going to be.
“They have been playing with a five at the back, but in the last 15 minutes against Rotherham, they went with a four. It’s something they hadn’t done before.
“That’s why you have to be adaptable and find solutions to different situations that come up during matches. We have to be adaptable and ready for Monday’s match. If we aren’t, we’ll find it difficult.”
