Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler says consistency is the key to challenging the Premier League’s traditional powerhouses after his side’s dominant 3-0 win over reigning champions Arsenal.
The victory came on Brighton & Hove Albion’s 125th anniversary, following a demanding spell that also included away matches against Coventry and Manchester United. Hurzeler said he was “really, really proud” of his players and staff.
“We have to make such performances the norm,” he said in an interview with Men in Blazers. “That is the challenge for the whole team.”
Hurzeler believes Brighton’s approach must begin with trust in their own principles rather than constant tactical changes. The club’s style of play is reinforced from pre-season onwards so that players develop habits, confidence and belief in one another.
Against a team of Arsenal’s quality, he accepts that adjustments are necessary, including decisions over the starting XI, height and the number of players capable of matching the opposition’s running and effort. But the overall objective remains to perform in every area, both with and without the ball, including attacking and defending set pieces.
“For me, a lot of it still comes down to mentality,” Hurzeler said. “Everyone must have the mentality of: ‘I can beat my opponent, I can win my one-on-one duels.’”
He rejected comparisons between the latest result and Brighton’s 1-0 defeat by Arsenal in March, when he said: “Only one team wanted to play football today.”
“These are completely different games,” he said. “New situation, new game, new game plan. I also fielded new players. It would be unfair to let the past influence the current game.”
Hurzeler praised Mikel Arteta and Arsenal for their achievements last season, saying they deserved the championship, while also defending his right to express his own opinions.
One of Brighton’s standout performers against Arsenal was 21-year-old Spanish midfielder Chema Andres, who has been nicknamed “Little Rodri”.
Hurzeler said the comparison was arguably unfair to Rodri, whom he described as one of the best players in the world, although he acknowledged similarities in their movement, style and Spanish background.
“Chema knows he has a long way to go to reach Rodri’s level,” he said. “He has had a good start, but the challenge now is whether he can make such performances the norm.”
Hurzeler also highlighted the progress of 20-year-old Malik Yalcouye, who played in Sweden two years ago, spent last season on loan at Swansea and has since scored against Chelsea.
He attributed Brighton’s success in developing young players to data-led recruitment, detailed character assessments and close cooperation between nutrition, sleep, analysis, medical and physical departments.
The manager said he would choose Rodri to play in every position in an XI made up of one player, citing his intelligence and understanding of the game. Pascal Gross, he added, possesses similar qualities.
“Smart players are already one step ahead,” Hurzeler said.
