Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Fabian Hürzeler said he ‘loves’ the ‘pressure’ of fighting for European places as his side visit Manchester City.
After six straight wins in all competitions, Brighton have reignited their season and put themselves in an excellent position for continental qualification come the end of the season.
This weekend, they visit reigning Premier League champions City, who sit just one point above the Seagulls after 28 matches.
With the margins the smallest they ever have been between Brighton and England’s elite, it is a huge contest in the context of the European battle and one Hürzeler appeared to be raring for.
Fitness updates
As the Premier League enters its final gameweek before the March international break, Brighton are looking to lay down a marker of their intentions.
They have welcomed back several key players in recent weeks but are set to be without a couple of defensive bodies this weekend.
Captain Lewis Dunk remains sidelined with a rib injury, as confirmed by Hürzeler.
*“He's getting closer, but he’s still not an option. Hopefully, he can use the international break, so that he will be back for the game against Nottingham Forest.”*
Elsewhere, it was confirmed that Joel Veltman and Matt O’Riley – the matchwinner when Brighton last met City in November – would also be out.
Hürzeler said: “Matt O'Riley still has a little bit of a problem with his knee, so he won't be an option for tomorrow, but also he can use the international break to be an option for Nottingham Forest.”
‘One of the best teams in the world’
Despite City’s struggles this season, they remain well-placed to secure Champions League football again in 2025/26.
They are currently in fifth place but are only competing on two fronts, with an FA Cup Quarter-Final against Bournemouth to fit in alongside their remaining 10 Premier League games.
With players returning from injury all the time too, Pep Guardiola’s side will be hopeful of a strong end to the season and secure one of five Champions League spots which are set to be available.
While Hürzeler won his first meeting with City earlier this season, Brighton continue to have a miserable record at the Etihad Stadium.
With no points from seven Premier League trips there, Brighton have history in their midst this weekend – although Hürzeler steered away from fighting talk.
“First of all, for me, it's not about chasing any records. For me it's chasing our own behaviour, chasing our own limits,” said the German.
“That's what we have to do as well against City.
“They’re still one of the best teams in the world and Pep is still one of the best managers in the world. For me, it's very important to go there with a big portion of humbleness. But also with a big belief in ourselves that we can beat every team in the league and we proved it this season. That's what we also try to prove tomorrow.”
Backing the right horse
During Cheltenham Festival week, the topic of Brighton chairman Tony Bloom’s fluctuating fortunes as a horse owner was raised at the latest press conference.
After Bloom responded to questions at the festival about Brighton’s fortunes and said the next couple of months could be huge, Hürzeler responded to this keenly.
“I love pressure. I always find a way to deal with the pressure,” said Hürzeler.
“I'm the most demanding person on my own and I want to get the best for the club and that's to be the most successful.
“We try it by doing it with daily behaviour, trying to push our limits every day, working to get the best out of the group, trying to get the best out of everyone in every way. That's what we try to do for the rest of the season.
“With the horses, I wish Tony all the best. But I think the start wasn't great. The horses weren't great at the race. But it's the same as in our season. We are not always great, but we try to get the best out of ourselves. We try to analyse, we try to reflect. And then the next race will come, the next game will come. That's what we try to do consistently in the season. I'm sure he will do the same with his horses.”
Counter-attacking resurgence
Last week, there was a significant statistical upset as Nottingham Forest beat City 1-0.
Forest currently rank lowest for passes played in the Premier League this season while City boast the most, and with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side sitting third at this stage of the season, their counter-attacking style has brought success.
Other sides, such as Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, have been effective this season with relatively small shares of possession too, suggesting that City’s pass-heavy style is not the only way to succeed anymore.
Hürzeler said: “I know the statistic, and for me, it's very important that there are different ways to be successful, and the most important is what fits to the players and what fits to the club.
“So in which way you want to be successful, I think that's the main thing to understand what is the style that most fits to the profile from the player. So that's the question I always have to ask myself.
“But of course, there is a trend at the moment that Premier League teams like Nottingham, like Bournemouth, they are very successful with a very low possession rate. But of course, we also try to dominate the opponent in possession. That's our style of play. So we don't always want to defend.
“Of course, you always have to see the trends and things that give you success. But the main thing is; to understand the profile from the player, understand the style and the club history, and then understand your own style of play, and then get these things together and try to to then find the right style for for this team.”
Set-piece questions
Another issue Brighton are aiming to solve before the end of the season is to find a regular set-piece taker.
In recent weeks, several different players have been used on free-kicks and corners, with mixed success during this time.
Last week, midfielder Yasin Ayari grabbed his first assist of the season with a beautiful floated free-kick to Jan Paul van Hecke against Fulham.
With Ayari being rotated this season, it was asked whether his set-piece specialism could see him start more often.
“This was a topic in our coaching team this week. We are really trying to find a taker because we have a lot of changes in the players who would take the set pieces,” said Hürzeler.
“At the moment, we are trying to develop them. Because, for example, Yasin Ayari, he wasn't a taker in his previous clubs. So therefore we try to develop them. We lost with Pascal Gross someone who took a lot of set pieces, and now it's about us developing the right taker.
“It takes time to build one. It won't happen overnight. It's a process. And we try to work on this every week, but like I said, it will take time to develop it.
“Set pieces are a game changer and match winner, but there are also other very important phases in the game, in possession, out of possession, transition when you lose the ball, transition when you win the ball.
“Therefore, you can't only start the player because he's the right taker for us. You have to see the whole package. You have to see the whole game and then make the right decision.”