Roberto De Zerbi believes what has happened this season will make him a stronger head coach in the future.
And he has welcomed the arrival of the hugely experienced Dr Florian Pfab as the club’s new head of medicine.
Albion have four Premier League games to go and the target is a third successive top-ten finish, with Aston Villa the visitors to the Amex on Sunday.
As he previewed the game, De Zerbi admitted he had made mistakes as he coped with the demands of a European campaign and a lengthy injury list.
“I have learned a lot of things [this season],” he admitted. “You can learn every day and in every situation, when you win or when you lose. But I think when you lose the improving you make is more important, it’s stronger.
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“I think we have been unlucky this year and for sure I made mistakes. But I made mistakes because I want to fix the target high. Maybe I fixed it too high.
“But that’s part of me. If I want to be happy I have to set the target higher to motivate myself. And if I am motivated I can motivate my players; otherwise it’s tough.”
Asked if he felt Albion could challenge for Europe next season as well as being competitive in the top half of the Premier League, De Zerbi added: “Yes. First of all, because we have a new doctor coming, a top doctor, and I think he can make a difference. We suffered a lot this area this season.
“It’s not controversial to say that, for instance, if I have [Kaoru] Mitoma and [Solly] March fit I go from my house to the ground happy and looking forward to starting the game. The same for the fans, for the owner, for everyone.”