A fifth win in six league games has left Brighton well and truly in the running for European qualification – but Fabian Hurzeler is not getting too ahead of himself.
The result leaves the Seagulls in ninth place, with 46 points. They are just two points behind sixth-placed Chelsea.
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler was serving a touchline ban at Burnley. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)placeholder image
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler was serving a touchline ban at Burnley. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
Head coach Hurzeler, who was serving a touchline ban at Burnley, said post-match: “We are managing the key moments and getting the right results but the performances are not necessarily better.
“We want the players to show the right behaviour, work ethic, habits and standards. We are pushing their limits as, long term, this team has so much quality.
“We try to get all-in and treat every game like it’s a final. We have a big challenge ahead of us in Tottenham and that's the main focus.
"I’m not the biggest fan of talking about Europe. It’s for the media side. We are known as a well-structured and well-run club. We are known for our expectations and being ambitious.
"We want to achieve something and make the next step. We have big confidence we can do it because we have the right people.
"We have a great board, owner and CEO. We have good foundations to keep improving. We need to earn right to compete with the top teams.
"We are staying humble and working hard every day. It’s about bringing consistency to performances as that’s what we’ve lacked this season.”
Hurzeler acknowledged that a key part of Albion’s improved fortunes is player availability.
They haven’t always had high quality options, to rely on, from the bench but the trip to Turf Moor was a different story.
Kaoru Mitoma, Solly March, Georginio Rutter and Charalampos Kostoulas were the attacking options – if plan A failed – whilst Carlos Baleba, Maxim De Cuyper, Joel Veltman, Igor Julio and Jason Steele completed the substitutes’ bench.
“We have good availability at the moment,” Hurzeler said.
"That’s something we’ve missed this season. The medical department are working hard on that and I’m pleased.
"There is competition in training and different options I can bring from the bench. They can push each other and reach a new limit.
“We want to keep the togetherness. You can only build connections by having good availability, by training together, spending time on and off the pitch. We’re happy about that now.”
Match of the Day pundits have had their say on Brighton’s push for Europe.
Record Premier League goalscorer Alan Shearer said: “Now they are ninth, two points off Chelsea, so they are back in the hunt for a European place, definitely.”
Co-pundit Danny Murphy said: “They have been on a great run and they should be talking about Europe because they have got really good momentum.”
Hurzeler thanks fans
The Albion boss is forming an improved bond with supporters. That’s something which didn’t look likely, after the most recent defeat against arch-rivals Crystal Palace, when Brighton fans said the German will be ‘sacked in the morning'.
That result was followed by a 1-0 loss at Aston Villa. At this point, the Seagulls had won just once in their previous 13 league games, slipping from fifth at the end of November to 14th.
Things have drastically changed since then, with five wins in six league games – and Hurzeler, unprompted, was keen to praise those who made the trip to Burnley.
“I want to say thanks to our supporters for travelling so far,” he said.
“Hopefully they have a safe journey home.”
But Hurzeler was keen to point out that this team got a bit ‘lucky’.
He explained: “Regarding the performance, I think it was not the best game from us.
“We kept a clean sheet, that was important. We suffered, especially at the defensive set-pieces.
“At two moments we were a little bit lucky because of tight offside positions.
“Offensively we played well. We created a lot of chances, a lot of danger especially with [Yankuba] Minteh, with Ferdi [Kadioglu] with the crosses.
“We could have scored more goals. Overall, we were there in the key moments,
“We managed the game quite well, we controlled the game quite well.
“But of course also Burnley, and they have improved in their last games. They have individual quality.
“I always emphasise the Premier League is so competitive. There are no easy games.
“The approach from us and the effort was good. Not an easy game, not a perfect performance but it is important to win these types of games.”
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