Ryan Mason 'remembering to breathe' as West Brom look to kick on
Albion boss Ryan Mason made sure to remember a key lesson in football management during the international break: Don’t forget to breathe.
The Baggies head coach claims to be relishing the long days on the training ground as he looks to make a success of his first permanent No.1 job.
Yet when the schedule allows, Mason also understands the importance of taking a rest and used part of the break to visit his wife and children who are still based down south.
“When I am up here my days are long, which is what I want and I have the energy for it,” he said.
“At the same time, when I need to breathe it is important to do that because it is so demanding.
“If you don’t breathe it is going to be tough, it is going to be challenging.
“I have been in this game long enough and had the last four-and-a-half years as an assistant. I have understood the demands of football and if you carry things for too long, it can affect you. When you need to breathe, you need to take those opportunities.”
Mason admitted the 3-0 defeat to Millwall prior to the break “hurt more” because of his team’s poor performance.
The 35-year-old continued: “The challenge is to feel the pain but stay calm in terms of what we are doing, in terms of what we are doing in terms of continuing to work, continuing to improve.
“We had time on the grass, we worked but then had another couple of days off and got to see my kids and family which gives me a different perspective and helps me realise the most important thing in life.
“But then when I am back here, the challenge is to try and improve this place, the people, the culture and try to get as many results as possible.”
Albion return to action at home to Preston on Saturday with Mason, who took the reins in June, confident his methods will bear fruit.
The Baggies have won just one of their last five matches, after winning three of the first four and the schedule is set to intensify, with six games to come in the next three weeks.
“It can (change quickly),” said Mason. “When you have three games in a week there are nine points up for grabs and a good week can get you up the table, a difficult week can make it look and feel bad.
“But there are so many games. I think it is important, emotionally, not to get too low or too high.
“When we won three of our first four there was no feeling of getting ahead of ourselves.
“Every game is so demanding and you have to be ready to compete and if you don’t, if you are off it by five per cent, then you lose.”
