Old boss returns with the Baggies
HUDDERSFIELD v WEST BROM
Today, Kick-off: 12pm
By Chris Dunlavy
HUDDERSFIELD’S Matty Pearson is relishing the chance to pit his wits against the manager who gave him a whole new “vision” of football.
Carlos Corberan joined the Terriers in 2020 after several years working under legendary Argentine Marcelo Bielsa and transformed the Championship strugglers into an obdurate pressing unit that came within 90 minutes of a place in the Premier League.
Defeat to Nottingham Forest in the 2022 play-off final mately spelled the end of his time in West Yorkshire and, after a brief stint at Olympi- ultiacos, the 40-year-old Spaniard returned to England with West Brom later the same year.
Today marks Corberan’s first return to the John Smith’s Stadium as an opposition ager and he brings a Baggies manside that, much like Huddersfield,d, has defied the odds to launch an unexpected tilt at promotion.
“It’ll be great to see Carlos,” said right-back Pearson. “When I first met him, I’d been in a Luton team where we played a certain way, and that’s what I’d got used to doing.
“All of a sudden we started playing short passes, knocking it along the floor to strikers. In terms of my position, I had to learn how to play out from the goalkeeper. I’d never been asked to do that before and it opened my eyes to a different vision of football.
“What Carlos did was put pictures in your head. If you have the picture in your head, you know where the pass is going. It’s when you don’t have the picture that you end up losing the ball or hesitating because you’re not sure where to play.
“Technically, I know I’m not one of the best players out there. But if managers believe in you and trust you to play out and do these things then it gives you so much confidence.”
And insight, especiall
