Roberto De Zerbi gave the clearest, fullest and probably most heartfelt message on his position, his future, his motivation and his working relationship with chairman Tony Bloom yesterday.

And it felt like he had something he wanted to get off his chest.

Maybe because he continues to be linked with different clubs.

Maybe because he is then distanced from said clubs and the reason is put down to Albion winning fewer matches than they have in the recent past.

So let’s get the content and the background absolutely right.

Because you never know, there might be some quotes taken out of context or some carefully edited tweets from people who weren’t there but love to get a ‘like’.

It was the customary Friday afternoon press conference ahead of a Saturday match.

In this case, just before De Zerbi, squad and staff set off to East Lancs for the fixture with Burnley.

I decided to ask about De Zerbi’s clear frustrations on the touchline.

We see it for ourselves in the stadium and TV love those close-ups of him sinking back into his seat or hiding his face in his top.

What was it that most frustrated him about his team, I asked.

De Zerbi initially laughed and said: “I am thinking to go on the bench with a tie but maybe my mother doesn’t recognise me!”

And then he went into what had frustrated him about the season – while making it perfectly clear he was not frustrated with, or trying to send a message to, Bloom via any of statements to the media.

That it was not about signings or the transfer window.

But it is about more than a pass which goes backwards or a ball which isn’t sent into the box.

De Zerbi said: “It’s tough. This season for me has been tough.

“At the beginning my dream was different, completely different.

“When I have spoken about the club, Tony, you have understood not the right way.

“If I have to say something to Tony, I call him and I tell him what I want to say, no?

“For me, it wasn’t a polemic (controversy). It was my way to improve.

“Last season, I remember very well in the last game against Southampton or City, how many fans were happy.

“My life is to feel the dream inside me.

“Just for it, I have spoken. I have said my opinion.

“I know you are not used to hearing the truth or the people who say the truth - in a strong way but in a polite way, honestly.

“I don’t know if my English is so clear to understand.

“But this season has been tough because, in the Europa League, I wanted to play in a different way with MY teams.

“Not with other players in the transfer market.

“But can I compete with my teams?

“With Mitoma, March, with Joao Pedro, with Julio Enciso in a good physical condition.

“Or we have to play without Mitoma, without March, without…...

“And the frustration is big for me.

“At this moment I am focused to feel again, to make happy our fans another season.

“To reach Europe and to have the chance to play in the Europa League or Conference League another season because I know the experience is, I think, crucial in football.

“I am pushing for that. I don’t know if we reach it or not.

“I have not decided to leave.

“If one of you understood I am ready to leave, it is not the right time yet to decide anything.

“I am frustrated, and I am disappointed for this season.

“But I never fight with Tony, I never fight with Paul Barber, with my players, no.”

It was an all-encompassing answer. Was the “you” in there singular or plural? I am not sure.

I know it’s boring, not a headline or repost-grabber, but – while none of us can be sure what will happen - I expect De Zerbi to stay with Albion this summer.

So, at that point, I told him exactly that.

It is not really the done thing. Press conferences are about the coach’s opinions, not ours, and rightly so. But I threw it in anyway.

De Zerbi said: “I don’t know but it is not a problem. The club are more important than the coaches.

“No, it can be Roberto as a coach, next season another or next season Roberto again.

“But it is important the team, the club, the players, the way of the club.

“If it is Roberto or another coach, nothing changes.”

De Zerbi has no doubts that he wants to Albion to play European football next season, despite its demands.

He added: “We have the chance to reach Europe.

“It’s tough because there are a lot of strong and very good teams.

“We are going to find a lot of teams who have played in Europe.

“(Manchester) City, Chelsea, they play in the FA Cup semi-final, final.

“Aston Villa are playing in the Conference League and we have the chance.

“We have to believe first of all and we have to win.

“I would like to play next season again in Europe because this season we are paying a lot for the first experience of Europe, but the second one can be easier.

“It can be important for the quality of the player and the club, but the most important thing is the experience.

“You need to know what it is to play Thursday-Sunday, especially if you are playing away. But this was the first time for us.”