Pepe Mel: 'I love West Bromwich Albion players'

West Bromwich Albion manager Pepe Mel has insisted that the club feels like a "family" already, despite him only having joined in January.

Mel, who has yet to win a game with the Baggies, will take on new Fulham manager Felix Magath on Saturday and is confident that the players are focused on the task for survival.

"West Brom is a family team and I am the dad - the players are my children," Mel is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

"I need the players to know I love them. For us, it's important that atmosphere. It's important to me the way the players are together and how hard they work together."

West Brom are out of the bottom three on goal difference only.