Goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuhler is a gregarious character and relishing the chance to play in English football. His career has previously taken him to Grasshoppers, Basle and Bayer Leverkeusen, but work permit problems had prevented him making the move to England. At the age of 35 he must have thought the chance had passed him by, but Bryan Robson took him to West Bromwich Albion this summer after an impressive World Cup. He was part of a Switzerland defence that didn’t concede a goal in four games but crashed out on penalties to the Ukraine. However, it raised his profile and with Tomasz Kuszczak now at Manchester United, he is the new number one at the Hawthorns. With two wins and two draws, Albion have made a good start to life in the Championship. And Zuberbuhler is loving life in England, as he told givemefootball’s Ian Clarkson
Q:
HOW ARE YOU FINDING LIFE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP?
A:
“It is a new situation. I like English football and I have done for a long time. I have never had a chance to come to England before because I only have a Swiss passport. Switzerland is not in the EU and I hadn’t before played 75% of games for the national team over a period of two years. It is my dream. West Brom has to play in the Premier League with the history of this club. I am very happy to be here and it is a nice club with a very good manager. I have signed here to go with West Brom directly to the Premier League. Of course it is a hard season, as I don't know all of the teams in the Championship. However, there will be a lot who want to get into the Premier League.”
Q:
DID THE WORLD CUP RAISE YOUR PROFILE?
A:
”The World Cup was a very good place to show myself and we conceded no goals in four games, which is very positive for a goalkeeper. But it was also very negative for me, as you go home despite not conceding a goal. It was a little bit hard for me to take over the first few days. The Swiss public's response was very positive at first. However, after the second round defeat against Ukraine when we missed all of those penalty kicks, it wasn't such a good response. But everyone knows we have a good young national team in Switzerland.”
Q:
WHAT DID YOU DO AFTER THE WORLD CUP?
A:
“I had a break where I went to Dubai and then I came back and signed for Albion. It has gone very fast. This happens in football. I trained hard and this is my mentality. I always train hard and if I feel good during training then I will feel good during a game. There is a difference but you have to be focused. In my 16 years as a professional it was always my mentality to train hard.”
Q:
HOW HAVE YOU SETTLED IN WITH THE REST OF THE SQUAD?
A:
”My teammates are great, but it is also important how you adapt to the team as well. I am a person who likes to have contact with people and talk together. It is very important that we do this as a team for our future. In this league we have to be a team and we have to stick together - everyone should be a happy family to work hard for our dreams. The first time I spoke to the manager it was important to understand him. I know him from years ago when he played football but when he talks with me I can feel directly what he wants from the rest of the players and me. That, for me, is very important.
Q:
YOU PLAYED IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE A FEW TIMES FOR BASLE – WILL YOU MISS IT?
A:
“I played in the Champions League four times. There is no European football now but that is okay. I know English football and I know how they play and I am a big fan. I’ve signed a contract at a good club. But I am a player who wants to win everything. I want to be successful. In the morning when I get up I want to be successful and I want to be happy amongst my fellow professionals. I’m absolutely focused that we can return to the Premier League.”
Q:
HAVE YOU BEEN IMPRESSED WITH PRE-SEASON AND THE FIRST FOUR LEAGUE GAMES?
A:
“There is a good mentality in the team and a big heart. This is a big difference to the Swiss. The Swiss mentality is different. English players, especially the younger ones, you can tell have had a very good schooling with the rules on and off the field. This is a bit different to Switzerland as it is a beautiful country and the young people have everything there. If they sign their first contract over there they think ‘okay’. But here, you can feel it isn't okay. Young people want to keep going and have more hunger.”
