Felix Magath: Fulham boss says he will not change his tough style

Felix Magath insists he will not change his tough style at Fulham, saying "no-one has died" from discipline.

The 60-year-old, who takes his new side to relegation rivals West Brom on Saturday, was reportedly called the "last dictator in Europe" by former player Bachirou Salou.

But the German said: "Why should I change my training? I am the most successful (club) coach of Germany.

"I don't know. Can you explain? Until now everybody has loved my training."

Since arriving at Craven Cottage, Magath has already called the Fulham squad in for extra training sessions.

And he has warned the club's fans that it will be substance over style while he attempts to keep them up.

"We have to do what we can at the moment and play to win, not to impress our fans," he said. "Sorry for that, but they have to be patient for a few months.

"I am sure the players want to stay in the league, so I think they are happy that they had a change. I think they are trusting me that we stay in the league."

Magath has never managed outside of Germany before

The Cottagers, who sacked Rene Meulensteen and his staff this week, lie bottom of the table, four points from safety.

"I am sure we will avoid relegation with this team," said Magath, who believes six victories will ensure survival.

A three-time Bundesliga winner as a manager during spells at Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg, Magath takes charge of a Fulham side who have won only one of their last seven and have the league's worst defensive record.

He believes Saturday's fixture at West Brom - who sit 17th - is "probably the most important game in this club's history".

"Now we have a special situation, it is not the time to dream. We have to work, we have to stand together and fight against relegation," said Magath, who has signed an 18-month contract at Craven Cottage.

"I've worked with other clubs at the bottom - Stuttgart, Eintracht Frankfurt and Werder Bremen - and I have never been relegated.

"We are not in a time to develop something, only to make points. We are behind others. It's not enough for us to draw, we have to win.

Magath is Fulham's third manager in less than four months, following the departures of Martin Jol and Meulensteen.

Assistant head coach Ray Wilkins and technical director Alan Curbishley were also dismissed this week in a move which Magath deemed necessary.

"I had to talk with him (Curbishley) about football and he gave me information about West Brom, was very good, very nice, but I decided to make a real cut," he said.

"If you make one here, one there, it is not the same. We have good relations and I know he is a very good manager who knows the English league well.

"So I am sorry for that, but I think it is the best for Fulham."