Pascal Gross has urged Albion to keep their wits about them for 90 minutes and beyond against Manchester City.

The summer signing knows what it is like to face a Pep Guardiola side after playing home and away for Ingolstadt against Bayern Munich two seasons ago.

But it is his experience from big home tests last term, when Guardiola was already at Manchester City, which will ensure he works hard to stay physically and mentally fresh right up until the final whistle.

Ingolstadt remained on level terms at home to Bayern for 90 minutes but were then sunk by injury-time goals from Arturo Vidal and Arjen Robben.

They led 2-0 and 3-1 when they hosted Borussia Dortmund. But a tense finale was in store when Dortmund got back to 3-2 and they nicked a leveller right at the death.

Ingolstadt also led Werder Bremen 1-0 and 2-1 until conceding three goals in the last ten minutes to lose 4-2.

So nothing can be taken for granted, even if Albion are on course for a famous result as the fourth official raises the board.

He told The Argus: “We always did well with Ingolstadt against the bigger teams.

“Last year we were 3-1 up on Dortmund but ended up drawing 3-3. They scored in the last minute. Bayern in 90 minutes was 0-0.

“In every football match you have a chance, even against the best teams in the world.

“They don’t win all 38 games so you always have a chance.

“We have to work very hard without the ball, to be clever and help each other.

“When you get tired you have to centre defensively so as not to lose your players.”

Ingolstadt lost 2-1 at home to Bayern and 2-0 away two seasons ago, when Guardiola was in charge.

From what he saw in those games, Gross believes Albion can allow City some possession – up to a point.

City led the Premier League possession and pass completion stats last season with figures of 61% and 85.5% respectively. Those numbers changed very little whether they were playing at home or away.

Gross knows what to expect at the Amex.

The Argus:

He said: “I played against Bayern when Pep was there and he is an amazing coach. Bayern played really well when he was there.

“They had a lot of possession, a lot of the ball.

“They played tiki taka in Barcelona and he tried to do the same at Bayern.

“You have to be aggressive against the ball so they don’t feel comfortable playing. We have to show them we don’t want to let them play too much in our half.

“When they play far away from our goals it is not too bad. When they come in our half, we have to show them that’s our half and we plan to defend it. We can’t let them feel comfortable.”

Gross and former Ingolstadt team-mate Markus Suttner are getting comfortable themselves in their new surroundings. A desire to learn the language is key to their adaptation.

Gross said: “When I speak to my team-mates every day, to the people in the club or when I go to restaurants, I think just normal life, it all helps.

“Even when you are in the city or at the supermarket you will get better every day. I want to improve every day.

“For me it is really important to speak the language. I can only play well and help the team if I show them that I want to be here and that I want to learn the language.

“I’m doing it quite well and I want to keep going.”

Gross reckons he and Suttner are at a similar level with their English.

He added: “We understand most things.

“Maybe if they speak very fast and not directly to us – or it’s a Scottish man – or they use slang, it is sometimes hard.

“If they speak directly to us, everything is okay.”

Other than that, settling in has largely been a case of watching what his colleagues are doing and trying to copy.

That extends to a slight difference in culture in terms of physical training.

Gross said: “In Germany it is not that big to go so often to the gym.

“Maybe the difference is it’s a physically stronger league in the Premier.

“I want to feel comfortable in this league and do everything I need so I can show my quality.

“Maybe there is a little more physical strength work here. In Germany, it depends on the coach.

“It’s another culture. At the beginning you look at your team mates, how they do things. Then you try to learn fast.”