West Brom's Pepe Mel: I let others take half-time team talk as I work on my English
Pepe Mel today revealed he does not deliver Albion's half-time team-talks – because his English is not yet good enough.
The Baggies boss hailed the influence of assistant Keith Downing and goalkeeping coach Dean Kiely and admitted the long-serving pair speak to the players at half-time.
And the Spaniard claimed he will improve as Hawthorns head coach once he becomes fluent in English, but insisted he has a full input on the training ground.
"We prepare together for the week ahead – then it's better for Deano and Keith to explain things to the players," said Mel.
"On the training ground for me it's important that I explain the work and the different games, but at half-time we only have 12-15 minutes and it's better that the players listen to Keith and Deano."
Watch Pepe Mel's pre-Hull City press conference
Albion have consistently performed better after half-time in Mel's first eight games in charge, culminating in Saturday's fightback to claim his first victory at Swansea.
And the he admitted the half-time instructions might have had an impact. He said: "It's possible but only because the players listen and understand the changes quickly, because it is a short time and decisions need to be made quickly. I talk about the problems with Keith and Deano.
"Then in the changing room it is better if they speak about the problems and the solutions.
"The most important thing is not the problem but the solution."
Mel's grasp of English was one of the concerns raised by senior players, prompting a series of crunch meetings several weeks ago, and the Spaniard admitted his language skills still post him problems.
"I assure you my English is improving every week," he said. "I think I improve my English and I improve the new model for the players.
"I am 51 years old and four months before I arrived here I had never spoken English.
"In three or four months more I will speak well. That will be better for me because the private relationships, face-to-face is important. I need to reach the players.
"If I spoke in the changing room it's possible the referee would whistle (for the second half) and West Brom wouldn't have left for the pitch!"
