Powerhouse clubs have once again taken key players from Brighton for the third consecutive season. However, Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi is not concerned and believes that finding replacements is the most important thing. Last season, Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister were important midfielders for the club, but they left to join Chelsea and Liverpool, respectively, for a combined sum of £170m. Despite this, Brighton currently sits at the top of the Premier League table after two consecutive 4-1 victories against Luton and Wolves.
De Zerbi acknowledges that it is still early in the season and wants his team to continue playing well and winning matches. He is particularly impressed with their quality of play and believes that there is still room for improvement. While the team as a whole has performed well, Kaoru Mitoma and Solly March have stood out. Mitoma’s impressive solo goal against Wolves showcased his skills, and De Zerbi considers him to be one of the best players in the world at one-on-ones. March has already scored three goals this season and is gaining confidence in his abilities.
Despite losing key players, Brighton still has two highly sought-after young talents in Evan Ferguson and Julio Enciso. Ferguson will lead the line against West Ham, while Enciso will be unavailable due to injury. De Zerbi praises both players and believes they are already important players in the Premier League.
De Zerbi’s tactical philosophy is based on playing an expansive, attractive style of football. Brighton has scored more goals than any other team and excels in various statistics such as expected goals and high turnovers leading to shots. They have a range of goalscorers, demonstrating their attacking depth. Brighton also ranks highly in patient build-up play, dangerous counterattacks, and holding a high defensive line.
De Zerbi credits his players for understanding and executing his instructions on the pitch. He trusts their ability to make decisions and adapt to the opponent’s pressure. Full-back Pervis Estupinan and Mitoma contribute to attacks down the left channel, and De Zerbi praises Estupinan’s performance.
Brighton uses a ‘box midfield’ consisting of two deeper pivots and two No. 10s to dominate the midfield. This, combined with their left-sided skew and high pressing, results in their impressive shot and chances-created maps. They are effective at turnovers in the final third and have a strong defensive press.
Overall, De Zerbi is pleased with Brighton’s performance so far and believes they can continue to improve and compete at the top of the table.
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