Brighton's Hurzeler on Man Utd challenge, new signings and positive start (Full Presser)
Brighton and Hove Albion boss Fabian Hurzeler on the challenge of facing Manchester United and their positive start to the season
Amex Training Centre, Lancing, UK
Amex Training Centre, Lancing, UK
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00:00Fabian, a week after your first pre-Premier League press conference, your team sits top
00:06of the Premier League, a nice 3-0 away win. This Premier League managerial stuff is pretty
00:10easy isn't it?
00:12So of course we're grateful for the start. We know that it's hard work every game and
00:20it's just momentum, we try to keep the momentum. It's important to get in the flow and that's
00:25what we try. So of course you can be happy after a win, but I'm a coach, I'm very fast
00:33back in my business and very fast back on focusing on the next game.
00:37In the next game, your first home game in charge against Manchester United, how much
00:44are you looking forward to, first of all the prospect of taking a team against a side as
00:49big as Manchester United, but also walking out at the stadium for the first time?
00:54I'm looking forward to meeting our fans, because in the end it's about making them proud, wearing
01:01the Seagulls colours. It's our responsibility, from my staff, from my players, to bring an
01:08intensity and energy on the pitch that transports to the supporters. We try to do this and we
01:16try to make them a present with a win. But of course we know that we have a tough opponent
01:24and Manchester is one of the best, the individual best club in the Premier League. They have
01:33great players, they have a great coach and it will be a big, big challenge for us, but
01:38we are looking forward to face it.
01:40Is there any injury doubts going into this game?
01:52They were all in training. We have to wait now, today and tomorrow, how the rehab and
02:00the training continues, how they adapt the intensity and then we will see if they will
02:07be an option for the squad, but I'm very happy that these three players are back.
02:12How excited are you that Jorginho Router is part of Brighton now and what can fans expect
02:23from him and is he available as well for the weekend?
02:27Also for him we have to wait, how he adapts. He had some games already in the pre-season
02:33for Leeds. He's a little bit German, he's a little bit from the UK and a little bit
02:40French, so there's a mix of everything inside his character. He's laughing a lot and I think
02:46he will be integrated fast in the group and that's the most important.
02:51And then on the other side, of course I'm convinced that he will help us on the pitch
02:55by his attitude working against the ball, by his quality in possession. He has something
03:02special and I know him or I knew him since he played for Hoffenheim. I followed his way,
03:09so he will be a big, big player for Brighton and I'm really looking forward to him.
03:14I'm happy that he's here in the squad.
03:16One week left in the transfer window, so you've only got maybe another week to answer questions
03:20about certain players. Look, there is still talk of potentially more incomings. I know
03:26names like Matt O'Reilly, Ferdi Kariokalou have also been mentioned. I know you won't
03:32speak about specific players. But look, last week you said you're happy with the squad,
03:36but are you now in a position to go, OK, maybe one or two, that would be perfect right now?
03:42Still happy with the squad. And in the end, I only can work with the players who are here
03:51and that's my focus. The other things I can't influence. So I'm really focusing on the work
03:57of the players here. I'm really enjoying it, working with them. I think they try to improve
04:02every day. They have a great attitude. They come here to the training ground with positive energy,
04:06with a good vibe and that's the most important. The other things I can't influence and we'll see
04:11what happens.
04:12Finally, outgoings. Are you expecting many more to leave the club? I know Abdullah Seema is
04:19now off to Stabres for the season. Any other potential loan moves? Valentin Barco
04:25rumoured to potentially go to Sevilla. Is there anything you could add on that at all?
04:31The most important for me is that the players we work with here, that they know how we plan
04:38with them. So we communicate very transparent with them and very open because in the end I
04:45will never play with hope for the players. I want the players happy. I want the players
04:51to develop. We have to create an environment where they can develop. If a player doesn't
04:57have the feeling that he can do it here, of course he has to look for another way.
05:04I can't comment on any rules because I don't know it. The only thing I can say is the players,
05:11they know how we plan with them and then it's up to them.
05:15What do you need to do better against Manchester United?
05:36In all phases of the game we have to improve. We have to be honest to ourselves. Of course 3-0
05:46was a great result but we had the momentum in the game on our side. We started with not enough
05:55controlling dominating the game. I think Everton had a better start in the game. They had not the
06:01biggest chances but they were dominating the game by their intensity, by their power they had.
06:07And then we made the right moment, we made the right decisions and we scored.
06:13When you re-analyse it, you shouldn't judge the performance on the team. I judge more the process,
06:21the performance, how they work together, how they work in possession, out of possession.
06:25I see a lot of improvements. For example, controlling the game better, working more
06:32consistently to get behind the ball, trying to stand even more compact for transition moments.
06:40I said it to the team, it was a good start. I also think it was a deserved win but in the end
06:45we had the momentum on our side and we have to work for this momentum. That's the most important.
06:50Don't be too happy about the result. Be happy that we had a good start but now continue
06:56working and improving in every phase of the game because we can improve in every phase of the game.
07:01Did you let them enjoy the win last time?
07:04Of course. Enjoying a win in the Premier League is always so important.
07:10They had two days off afterwards so they could enjoy it. But for me it's very important that
07:16we get the focus fast back on our process and fast back on the improvements we should do.
07:26Therefore we need a lot of analysis and a lot of work on the pitch.
07:30I'm very happy how they trained this week and how their attitude was. I hope we can
07:38make the next step and it's about making the next step and the next step and not
07:41focusing on the long term but focusing on the short term and trying to be the best version
07:47you can be every day. Danny Welbeck got a goal, he's playing against his old club where he started
07:51his career this weekend. He's still going strong. As a new manager, as a young manager coming out,
07:58important are people like Danny going into these games, perhaps against the likes of Manchester
08:02United and the experience and perhaps even information and knowledge he can impart to you?
08:07Yes, that's one of my styles to lead. I'm listening to experienced players because
08:16I can also learn from them. That's something very open and the players know it. Of course
08:23I try to get in communication, I try to get to learn from their experience because in the end
08:28they experienced more things on the pitch than me. I'm not afraid of saying that because it's
08:35the truth. I can learn from them, I can hear their opinions. I also can use their opinions
08:43in preparing a match against Manchester United because in the end Danny Welbeck played there,
08:48he has maybe some more knowledge about the club and about the behaviour from the individual players.
08:55I would be silly if I wouldn't use it. So of course I will use it and in the end of course
09:00it's my part to make the decisions, to make the clear preparation for the game to
09:07have hopefully the right match plan for a great opponent.
09:11In the past Brighton against Manchester United, I think people would have seen Brighton as
09:16underdogs but I think Brighton have won four of the last six against United and given where you
09:20are in the start of the season you have, is it fair to say that you perhaps go into this one
09:23as a slight favourite against Manchester United?
09:26I think it would be a little bit too much if I say we are the favourites against Manchester
09:32United. What I can say is that we try to continue to build on the foundation
09:39that was built here in the last recent years. Brighton, they won a lot of times against
09:46Manchester. Of course we know that it's a big opponent against who we play on Saturday
09:53but we shouldn't hide. So we should have respect and we should prepare and
10:00try to have the best preparation we can have. But of course we also have ambitions and of course we
10:07also should go into a game like this with self-confidence. So in the end I want that
10:13we bring our style of play on the pitch, that we bring our potential on the pitch, that we
10:19improve in every phase we can improve. So in possession, out of possession, set-pieces.
10:26That's the thing I try to focus on and the results from the past, I think they are the past,
10:33now it's a new game and it's a new situation and we try to win the game.
10:38Just on Manchester United, last week they didn't play with an out-and-out centre-forward,
10:42Bruno Fernandes started for this board. Are you expecting that from United again and if so,
10:48how does that impact on how you prepare your defence? Do you do things differently
10:51if you're playing against a team that's not got that out-and-out striker?
10:55There's a difference when Siski is playing, he's a target player of course. When Mount and
11:03Bruno Fernandes are playing as a striker they play more like a false nine. So of course there are
11:10differences. We have to prepare for both. We have to be clear what is our plan when they come in
11:17this formation or that formation. That's our job, to be the best prepared team we can be and
11:23that's what we try to do in the next two days.
11:29Fabian, could I just ask about Yancuba? Obviously he came off, I know it was precaution,
11:33but was it concussion and does that mean he's available OK for this weekend?
11:39Of course there are clear rules we have to go through. I think it's also important for the
11:45health of the player that we follow these rules from the Premier League, but he will be available.
11:56Jorginho Ruta, where does he fit in? How do you see him playing for the club? He's an attacking
12:03player, he can play in lots of different positions, but where do you see him fitting into the Brighton
12:07team?
12:09I think one of his strengths is that he can play on the outside but also in the centre.
12:15He can help us because he has a very good feeling for positioning, a very good feeling for finding
12:23the gaps in between the lines from the opponent. A very good first touch, a very good continue of
12:29the game forward. He's not really focusing on playing backwards, he's always trying to play
12:34vertical. I especially like his reaction and his behaviour out of position and after losing the
12:42ball. I think he has a very interesting package that will help us.
12:48Manchester United are a club in transition off the pitch, what about their quality on the pitch?
12:56Where do you see their strengths and potential weaknesses?
13:02The strength I think from this team is they have an individual quality on the pitch where you
13:09never can lose your attention on the game because they can decide a game in one situation.
13:16Even if they're not really in the game, they have a quality with Fernandes, Rashford,
13:23Diallo, Garnaccio, Mount. There's one situation they can kill the game and there you have to
13:29pay attention, really 90 minutes you have to be focused all the time on the game,
13:33especially on transition moments. When we are in possession and we have a good positioning,
13:39a good distance to each other, in the case we lose the ball we are immediately there for good
13:44counter-pressing, for stopping their transition moments and I think this will be a key.
13:53Obviously it's your first home game, you've talked a little bit about the fans,
13:57we've seen the pictures of you interacting with the Sao Paolo fans,
14:01just tell us about the role and the message you have for the home supporters this season?
14:06I had a talk with them and for me it's always important the expectations from them,
14:14what they want to see that the team is doing on the pitch. In the end it's about giving everything
14:22you have in your body. They demand that they should have the feeling after every game that
14:28every player is completely there because he gives everything he has in his body.
14:36I always try to build a connection to the supporters because in the end I want that
14:39they are our 12th man and they support us in every situation, especially in games like this
14:46also against Manchester, there will be moments where we have to suffer together, there will be
14:50moments where maybe Manchester United controls the game and then you have to stand together,
14:56then you have to suffer together and there I would love that the fans are still behind us
15:02and support us and not only when there are positive actions in the game. That's our job,
15:08like I said in the beginning, to bring this connection or to build this connection with
15:14the fans. It only works if we give a lot of input and we give a lot of energy
15:19on the pitch and a lot of intensity so that this energy transports to them.