Fabian Hurzeler will never forget his first meeting with Everton, his debut as the boss of Brighton.
He expects some things to stay the same, but their manager and stadium have changed, with a "great player" also in their ranks on loan and eager to remind everyone of his class before the World Cup.
‘You need to be a part of it’
Hurzeler started his stint with the Seagulls at Everton. The hosts were starting their final season at Goodison Park, but irrespective of the location, the passion from the fans will be palpable tomorrow.
“It was a special, a loud atmosphere. We expect the same this this weekend. Everton supporters are known for being emotional. We are looking forward for this atmosphere. We look forward to seeing the new stadium but we are not there to be that nice club. We are there to win points. That's our goal.”
He spent some time reflecting on his debut in the dugout. Sean Dyche was his counterpart for the opposition, who played with the physicality and directness that one would expect on opening day.
“Everton* started really good the game with corners, crosses, some good actions. I was impressed with the intensity, the speed from the game. There are things that you can prepare and you talk to people about the experiences playing against Everton, but you need to be part of it to really feel it.”*
It was a culture shock for the 32-year-old, whose only coaching gig at a pro club had been with Saint Pauli in Germany. After the flurry of the first phase, he was in a better position to support his side.
“After the first 20 minutes, we played a really good game. I’d never want to miss the first experience I made against Everton. and hopefully we can be as successful as we were last season against them.”
The Toffees are thrilled to be playing at their new ground for the first time in the Premier League, and it is likely to give the hosts an extra edge. But Hurzeler has no intent to focus on that factor too much.
“We should focus on us because there are things we might not expect, we might not can prepare for, there are unpredictable things that that can happen. So these all things we can't influence. So the focus should really be on our preparation. How can we be the best prepared team for this game.”
‘They use every advantage they get’
In the new year, David Moyes has moved the group onward. He was already a hero from his first spell in Merseyside and cemented his legacy by steering the squad to safety with some room to spare.
“His teams are always very organized, difficult to great chances. They’re clever in certain moments. They use every advantage they get. So you have to be awake all the time. You have to be awake when you have a corner against them and then there's a second phase. You have to awake at the throw ins.”
Now, the camp are keen to kick on. Carlos Alcaraz, Thierno Barry, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have added to the tools on their midfield and offensive roster. To top it all off, Jack Grealish has decided to sign for the side on a year-long loan to get away from his stagnation at Man City.
The Englishman earned a treble with the Citizens in 2023, but many have questioned whether the move was best to showcase his maverick traits. Indeed, his free-spirited attitude stands out most to Hurzeler, who would have enjoyed watching the attacker from his days as a talisman for Aston Villa.
“*Jack Grealish*has proved that he's a great player. He proved it for City. I'm sure he’ll help Everton because he has unbelievable talent. I like to watch him also in in former times because I just think that he makes the game the football game more pure and he is a factor why people watch this game.”