Despite the Premier League winners’ recent success, Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi maintains that the matchup against Manchester City on Saturday afternoon is “bad news.”
The Seagulls want to end their current four-game streak in all competitions without a win, but Pep Guardiola’s team stands in their way. Despite losing three of their past four games across all competitions, City has been having a difficult season by their high standards. They will be returning to the Etihad Stadium, where they have a perfect record this season. When asked if it’s a smart idea to take on the treble champions, De Zerbi gave the opposite answer. At a press conference, he stated, “It is bad news.” Though we must each consider our own options, the major teams are not accustomed to dropping three of their final four games.
We need to play at a higher level and compete for our goal, thus we need to enhance the quality of our plays. It is imperative that we play better than in previous games if we hope to compete or win. Since De Zerbi entered the Amex Stadium and gave Brighton’s supporters their first taste of European football in the club’s existence, Brighton has grown stronger than ever. Many have drawn comparisons between the Italian’s current record and the manager in the opposing dugout, and De Zerbi acknowledges that he would love to emulate Guardiola’s accomplishments throughout his managerial career. When I hear Pep talk about me, I’m thrilled. We’re still figuring things out, so I feel a little ashamed,” De Zerbi continued. “I believe we are battling and playing well, but we still need to grow, advance, and adjust to a new challenge and new season.
Premier League top scorer Erling Haaland has not found the back of the net in his last two league appearances, which many fans have not grown accustomed to since his arrival into the league. However, De Zerbi is extra wary of Haaland’s threat as he looks to break his mini duck. “Pep is a boss. I would like to do something the same because for many years he won in Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Man City, but the way which he won is different to other coaches. The world will remember him not only for the victory but the way it is unique.”
Brighton had earlier on Friday revealed that highly-regarded winger Kaoru Mitoma had agreed to a new deal.
The 26-year-old, who moved to Brighton in 2021, has contributed significantly to the team’s success and is expected to remain on the south coast until 2027.
Says De Zerbi: “This is fantastic news. Our best player is Kaoru. “It’s wonderful news that a player of Kaoru’s caliber will be with us for a long time,” technical director David Weir continued. After adjusting to life in the Premier League the previous season, Kaoru has emerged as one of our key players.
