Brighton & Hove Albion Head Coach, Fabian Hurzeler has praised “a quite mature” 4-0 victory over Aston Villa.
Victor Lindelöf’s own-goal in the eighth minute set Brighton up to clinically beat Aston Villa in a four-goal first-half display, as Maxim De Cuyper doubled their lead before Jack Hinshelwood’s brace settled the contest inside the opening 31 minutes and put the Seagulls top of the Premier League table.
Hurzeler post-match however was critical of their initial sloppy start as he spoke to brightonandhovealbion.com about his team’s performance, but praised his players for regaining control and delivering clinical goals.
“I think we defended well. We had really good out of possession. The first minutes we struggled a little bit. Aston Villa had the ball a lot, they controlled the game, but then more and more we get the control of the game back.
“We scored some nice goals. Of course, the first goal a little bit of luck with Maxi, but afterwards we scored some nice goals. It helped us, it helped our game, it helped our intensity. And then, of course, the red card was a game changer as well. But overall, all the goals we scored were at 11 v 11, so that’s positive.
“In the second half we were quite serious, I would say. We had the ball, we controlled the game, we didn’t give away the ball too easy. We created some chances, so I think it was a quite mature performance.
Hurzeler also iterated that the Seagulls’ intensity was key on top of winning individual one-vs-one duels to create turnover opportunities.
“I think that was definitely key, our intensity, winning personal duels to set the trap and then the right moment to step into it. It’s about the last step, it’s about how do we accelerate before we arrive at the opponent? I think these are the key details and I think that’s what the boys did really well today.
Hurzeler utilised a blend of youth and experience but felt that using young players is befitting of the club identity that he wants to build whilst developing the players.
“We need every player. I think that’s part of our identity, that’s part of Brighton, that we will get always young players and players full of potential, and it’s up to us to develop them. So let’s keep pushing them.”
Having battled to a goalless draw at Tromso in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League Play-Off last Thursday (20 August), Brighton’s win over Villa is seen by Hurzeler as a positive in building momentum for the second leg at home on Thursday 27 August.
“It’s always important. It’s always helpful to win games. But in the end, it was only one game now. It was a good start and now we have to understand why we had this kind of game, and now we have another big challenge ahead of us against Tromso on Thursday.”
Hurzeler also iterated that the team now need to use this performance as a base to kick on in coming games if are to achieve success in the Premier League.
That’s now up to us to keep these standards. To keep this intensity. To understand why we had this victory. Because in the end, it’s about hard work, it’s about intensity, it’s about doing the basic things right.
“I think that was the key today and that’s why we set the standards high. That’s also what I said to the boys, and it’s about now always trying to go to your limits because otherwise we have no chance in the Premier League.”
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