Brighton go into Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final against Nottingham Forest with a potentially historic opportunity in front of them, but Fabian Hurzeler is determined to keep a lid on the hype.
The Seagulls are one of four of the eight clubs to have reached this stage of the competition who have never won a major trophy – Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Fulham are the others.
Most of the Premier League's big-hitters having already been knocked out – only an under-performing Manchester City remain of the so-called 'big six' – leaving a sense this could be the year for a new name to be etched onto the famous old trophy.
Wembley awaits for Saturday's winners but Hurzeler is determined to block out any sense of occasion in order to keep his players focused.
"Of course we feel it but for me, it's important we don't make it artificially big," Hurzeler said. "Of course, it's an important game but it's like all the other games as well because in all the games we can improve ourselves, in all the games we have to go to the limit.
"I am not trying to make it artificially big, we all know it's a big opportunity, a big chance but it's like all the other games as well."
The German was clear his attitude did not reflect any lack of belief in his players to do something big this season.
"There are three things that made us strong in the past – intensity, we try to outwork and outrun opponents," he said. "We need to have togetherness – we need to stick together not only in good phases but also in negative phases.
"The last thing is, in this phase of the season, we need to have the belief. And I have the biggest belief in this group – the belief that they can win and that they can achieve a season everyone remembers.
"But if you want to show all three things then it's important we don't force it."
The prospect of Wembley was not the only topic off-limits for Hurzeler ahead of Forest's visit.
At the start of February Chris Wood scored a hat-trick as Nuno Espirito Santo's side inflicted a 7-0 thrashing on Brighton at the City Ground, their heaviest defeat in 67 years.
"I won't discuss it," Hurzeler said.
"The players took a lot of ownership and a lot of responsibility and they said we have to go back to the things that made us strong and things that make us strong are working together, showing intensity and this belief that we can beat every team in the league."
Will Forest beat Brighton? Tell us HERE
Get your special Nottingham Forest in Europe souvenir edition
We have produced a special 48-page edition of the Nottingham Post celebrating the club’s two European Cup wins.
Nottingham Forest are flying high in the Premier League and Reds fans are dreaming of a return to European competition. It has been an outstanding campaign for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men, who are on course for a place in the Champions League next season. And Forest supporters can whet their appetite for a possible return to football’s top tier on the continent with our 48-page special edition celebrating the club’s two European Cup wins.
undefined
Buy now and have it delivered directly to your door. Alternatively you can purchase in most supermarkets, high street retailers and independent newsagents in Nottinghamshire from April, 2 2025.
For online order postage and packaging applies, orders will be posted from April 2, 2025.