by Fabian Hürzeler in any doubt about the importance of the FA Cup for Fans of Brighton, he received a sweet reminder in his hometown of Munich. The short international break of Hürzeler, among family and friends, received a polished but sharp interruption. “While walking in the city, one of Brighton’s supporters called my name and said that he was really looking forward to the match,” said the club’s head coach. “He said that we have to give everything in this game, and of course, you feel it, but for me, it is important that we did not make it artificial excitement.”
Hürzeler, born a decade after Albion lost the 1983 final against Manchester United in a replay, may be apologized for not knowing the tradition of Steve Foster’s headband, Tony Grenish Hirsut Captain and the “essential” Miss of striker Gordon Smith. There is always the owner, Tony Bloom, and the club employees were revised over time to cover the details. In any case, Brighton revived this day of Wembley there are two seasons, another hard defeat against United in the semi-finals, this time in penalties.
In relation: FA Cup Quarters: What to look for this weekend
The German prefers to be forward forward. At 32, he can only learn at work and the signs are that he quickly learns backs. On Saturday, Brighton Face Nottingham Forest, who beat them 7-0 on February 1. Since then, the Hürzeler team has been undefeated and in the middle of the week returns in the Premier League in seventh place, a fifth point and probable qualifications of the Champions League. A draw, only Manchester City remaining usual suspects, made FA Cup an achieveable goal, Brighton one of the four quarter finalists for never winning a major trophy.
“It is very important not to react excessively and to understand what makes us strong as a team,” said Hürzeler. “This was exactly the case when we lost against Nottingham. In particular the players, they took a lot of property. They took a lot of responsibilities, and they said:” OK, we have to return to the roots. “”
“We must have this conviviality, we must remain together, not only in good phases but also in negative phases, and we have proven it this season so far, especially after the loss against Nottingham. We have shown the spirit of unity, and the last thing, especially in this phase of the season, you must have belief and I have the greatest belief in this group.”
The forest will be without the wounded Chris Wood, who took a demolition ball at the defense of Brighton on the city’s field in February, marking a hat -trick. Hürzeler offers full respect for his opposite number, Nuno Espírito Santo: “He built a winning machine. They have players who have a quality and a style that fully adapt to the player’s profiles. It’s something special. It shows its quality. “
Hürzeler, as a singer of Brighton’s acclaimed executive structure, is very different from his predecessor Roberto de Zerbi, who in turn could have been more different from Graham Potter. The Italian was the counterattack revolutionary, which has briefly became the hottest name in football. Potter has established itself as the most stable of the hands. Hürzeler offers something else, but perhaps also something between the two. When he was appointed last July, he spoke of “challenging the establishment” and nevertheless developed Brighton in an often methodical and common sense. The time spent in his business reveals a passionate belief in the power of psychology and mentality.
Hürzeler was inspired by the unlikely Union – for a German world – rugby: “The loss against Nottingham was a great loss, but it was also a loss that helped us in our development. Now it is important to find a good balance. There is a book on the All Blacks, and they talk about the red head and the blue head, the fresh head.
“And if you are still in the red head and you act with too much emotion, saying:” We must take revenge, we are angry that they beat us seven zero “, I think you are too in the emotional part of your mind and that is why it is so important to stay in the blue phase, in the cool head, to make decisions without emotions, to remain rational.”
When many clubs choose to prioritize, perhaps even a third forest, with their chance of gold to play football from the Champions League next season, Hürzeler says that he does not undergo any pressure from Bloom or the Director General, Paul Barber, to postpone one competition on the other, even if the Champions League came from a distance.
“We are trying to enter each competition to reach the maximum, we try to enter each game and win it, it is therefore our approach, our thought, and therefore we do not have this kind of discussion. It is a question of building the rhythm, of keeping the connection, of building this coherence and therefore I am not a big fan of making too many rotations, too many changes in the departure XI. ”
If the FA Cup has lost its chandelier because managers run their teams to focus on the questions of League, including those of Lower Dower the Football League, the former coach of St Pauli presents a different way of thinking. If Brighton reaches European football next season, fatigue can become more worrying. For this season at least, Hürzeler seems convinced that it remains in the mind.
“I think that when the players feel in good shape, are in a good mood, they have a lot of belief in themselves. They are confident and want to be on the field. It is my feeling; the mind can decide on the feeling on the field, so players do not feel this fatigue, and so I’m not a fan of making too many changes.”
