Fabian Hurzeler spoke of the challenges Everton will pose his team ahead of Brighton's visit to Hill Dickinson Stadium
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler takes his team to Everton on Sunday
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler takes his team to Everton on Sunday
(Image: YouTube/Official Brighton & Hove Albion FC)
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler hailed Jack Grealish “an unbelievable talent” amid preparations for his side’s visit to Everton. The Seagulls will become the first opponent in a competitive game at Hill Dickinson Stadium when the steams meet in an historic fixture on Sunday.
In his pre-match press conference, Hurzeler spoke of the twin threats posed by a Blues side that is “very, very organised” but now contains the creativity of a player of Grealish’s skill.
Hurzeler fell to Everton’s efficiency back in January as David Moyes delivered a stubborn, resilient and effective away performance at the Amex in January.
An Iliman Ndiaye penalty provided the Blues with a valuable victory that built on the success over Tottenham Hotspur in the previous match - Moyes’ first win since his return to the club that month - and started to move the team from the relegation battle that had looked inevitable at the turn of the year.
The game at Brighton ended in animosity as both sets of players jostled in the Everton box on the final whistle - while Moyes went to celebrate with the away end.
Hurzeler, who gave a tense press conference afterwards, reflected on the nature of that match as he spoke before taking his team to the Liverpool waterfront.
He said: “It’s difficult to create chances. They are very clever in certain moments.
“They use every advantage they get, so you have to be awake all the time.
“You have to be awake, for example, when there is a corner against you, and then there’s a second phase, you have to be awake when there is a throw-in for them, so they are really good in these kind of things.”
Everton have added a creative flourish to their stubbornness this summer with Grealish’s loan move from Manchester City.
Aware of the quality the 29-year-old will bring to the Blues, Hurzeler added: “I think Jack Grealish, he proved so far that he’s a great player.
“He proved it for City, and I’m sure that he will help Everton because he is an unbelievable talent.
“I really liked to watch him in former times, because I just think that he makes the game more beautiful, and he is a factor in why people watch this game.”
Blues boss Moyes will hold his press conference at 1.30pm today (Friday, August 22) at FInch Farm.
He is expected to give an update on transfers and the injury latest on Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitalii Mykolenko, who both missed the opening-night 1-0 defeat at Leeds United.