Albion’s head coach rates the achievement in restoring Lewis Dunk to the Three Lions on a par with taking the club into the Europa League. Now he would love to see Steele, the man he has propelled into the Premier League spotlight, earn similar recognition from Gareth Southgate. Steele returns to the scene of his Premier League debut as Albion face Aston Villa. That outing last season was as a stand-in for the suspended Robert Sanchez. Steele has been very much the No.1 in recent weeks and has impressed De Zerbi with all aspects of his game, including his passing from the back.
Roberto De Zerbi said: “We will work in the next season to help Jason Steele to achieve the same target as Lewis Dunk. He has the quality to achieve a target so important. I don’t want to speak about other keepers in other teams. In my vision, my idea, Jason Steele is a top keeper. It is difficult to find another keeper at the level. I study football 24 hours per day but it’s very hard to find another keeper with these qualities, this courage, this knowledge to play.”
Steele was seen as Albion’s back-up keeper, both to Maty Ryan and then Sanchez. But De Zerbi saw enough in training and cup ties to change that.
Roberto De Zerbi said: “I have to analyse the present and sometimes the potential and the future. The past is not important for me. You can change your life in one day if you believe in yourself and you believe in work. I told him the same – ‘I give you the possibility to change your life, to change your career, and you have to believe in yourself because I help you and you help me’.”
