Gera cools Euro talk

Zoltan Gera says that European football is not on West Brom's agenda despite their good start to the season.

Last Updated: 22/12/12 at 15:27 Post Comment

Zoltan Gera: Played in a Europa League final for previous club Fulham

Zoltan Gera: Played in a Europa League final for previous club Fulham

Steve Clarke's side have risen as high as third, but a run of four games without a win has seen the West Midlands outfit slip back into seventh place in the Premier League.

Gera has enjoyed success in Europe with Fulham, clinching their place in the Europa League final in 2010 with a late goal against Hamburg in the second leg of the semi-final.

The Hawthorns last saw European action for a brief UEFA Cup run in 1981/82, but the Hungarian midfielder is aiming for security on the domestic front before any thoughts of taking on sides from the continent.

"Qualifying for Europe is not an ultimate goal," claimed Gera. "Of course we would be happy to reach that.

"In England a team has one of two aims: to win the title or avoid relegation.

"For the latter, 40 points are surely enough, but to win the title sometimes 89 is not enough.

"Our place should be in the top ten, and that's the most important aim."

The 33-year-old was also full of praise for West Brom manager Steve Clarke, who succeeded Roy Hodgson earlier this year to take the reins as a manager for the first time after a succession of coaching roles.

"Although Roy Hodgson is a great manager, I think it was good for everyone that we got new ideas with Steve Clarke's arrival," Gera added.

"In his 4-2-3-1 tactics, there is more chance to make variations than in the classical 4-4-2.

"The basis is the same: stable defending and a well-organised team-play."

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