Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi on Kaoru Mitoma and Solly March form, Julio Enciso injury and Evan Ferguson potential

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Powerhouse golf equipment prised key gamers from Brighton for a 3rd season working this summer time, however “it isn’t an issue” says Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi. “A very powerful [thing] is to search out replacements.”

Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister have been the membership’s midfield engines final time period – however each gamers left the membership for pastures new, becoming a member of Chelsea and Liverpool respectively for a mixed sum of £170m.

Regardless of this, Brighton enter the third spherical of league fixtures prime of the pack following back-to-back 4-1 wins in opposition to Luton and Wolves.

“We’re prime of the desk however we’ve got solely performed two video games,” says De Zerbi in an unique interview with Sky Sports activities. “We’re in the beginning. We hold taking part in and we hold successful. We wish to keep on the prime of the desk and we all know will probably be very troublesome, however we begin [against West Ham].

“Our high quality of play [has impressed me most so far]. We have scored a number of targets within the two video games however we are able to nonetheless play higher and we are able to rating extra. We’ve analysed the final two video games as a result of we conceded one aim from a penalty and the second from a set-piece. We are able to nonetheless enhance.”

Stars step up

Whereas the staff as an entire has shone of their two video games up to now, Japan worldwide Kaoru Mitoma and Solly March have shone brightest. Each have been among the many standout performers final season however seem on track to take these performances to the following degree this time period.

Mitoma appeared to defy physics along with his solo, surprise aim in opposition to Wolves: accumulating the ball on the left flank – nearly on the midway line – chopping inside one opponent, shrugging off a second and bursting via two extra earlier than slipping the ball previous Jose Sa.

De Zerbi holds nothing again in relation to heaping reward on his rising star: “I feel he is probably the greatest gamers on the planet at 1vs1s.”

In the meantime, March goes into the weekend sitting joint-top of the goalscoring chart with three targets, alongside Brentford ahead Bryan Mbeumo – having netted the opener in opposition to Luton and scoring twice at Molineux. De Zerbi has tasked March to succeed in 15 targets on this marketing campaign and believes his in-form winger can attain even larger ranges.

“March is enhancing in confidence,” says De Zerbi. “He has understood he can rating a number of targets as a result of it’s important to create the prospect – to be in the precise place on the proper second. We’re engaged on it. He is a superb participant.”

It doesn’t cease there. Regardless of the seasonal raids on their prime stars, the membership nonetheless possesses two of probably the most sought-after kids in world soccer: 18-year-old striker Evan Ferguson and 19-year-old Julio Enciso.

Talking in his press convention, De Zerbi revealed the previous will lead the road in opposition to West Ham on Saturday, whereas the latter will probably be unavailable for a “lengthy interval” via harm.

Ferguson oozes stature, energy and prowess unparalleled for his age, whereas Enciso ranks among the many very elite in his age group throughout Europe for dribbling means and creativity.

“Each are larger than their actual age,” says the Italian. “They’re already crucial gamers within the Premier League and we’re fortunate to have them.

“Ferguson is a vital participant. We’ve a number of attackers and I’ve to determine the beginning XI relying on the bodily situation of the gamers, and, think about, like in the intervening time, accidents to the opposite gamers, for instance.

“I am very unhappy concerning the harm for Julio. You understand accidents can occur in soccer. He has to react in a great way and are available again higher.”

Tactical philosophy

De Zerbi has actually picked up the baton from former Brighton supervisor Graham Potter in deploying an expansive, engaging fashion of soccer. Again in 2021, the Italian secured back-to-back eighth-placed finishes with Serie A minnows Sassuolo on a shoestring funds – threatening to disrupt the league’s established order. Sound acquainted?

So what’s his philosophy?

“We present braveness. We present persistence. We command the sport. We’re protagonists on the pitch, benefit from the pitch and make our followers completely satisfied. That is the key.”

Going into the weekend, Brighton had scored practically twice as many targets as another staff and topped the rankings throughout a raft of statistics, included anticipated targets, assists and excessive turnovers resulting in photographs.

Moreover, solely Aston Villa have recorded extra ‘direct assaults’ – outlined as open-play sequences which begin simply contained in the staff’s half and have a minimum of 50 per cent motion in the direction of the opposition’s aim and finish with a shot or contact within the opposition field.

Objectives are coming from quite a few sources: a league-topping six Brighton gamers already have off the mark – exhibiting the replenishing depths of De Zerbi’s attacking assets – regardless of Danny Welbeck but to register a aim.

By way of broader fashion, Brighton rank among the many prime groups for affected person build-up play, whereas additionally being harmful on the break. Solely Chelsea and Spurs have registered larger proportions for brief passes, whereas solely Arsenal sometimes journey additional upfield throughout passing sequences.

The Seagulls additionally rank among the many elite for holding a excessive line (begin distance) they usually have additionally clocked extra accomplished passes within the remaining third than home and European champions Manchester Metropolis this season.

De Zerbi calls for the fashion, however he additionally has full religion in his gamers’ execution of the plan. “I give the concept to my gamers, however the gamers are very, very good, very clear,” he says.

“They perceive the depth of the opponent stress. They perceive the road move. I give directions however, on the pitch, they perceive they need to make choices, for positive.”

Ecuador full-back Pervis Estupinan is one other Brighton participant shining persistently, who, together with Mitoma, has contributed to a skew of assaults down the left channel – one thing which additionally occurred over the course of final season to a lesser diploma.

“I feel we’re attacking extra down the left aspect as a result of Pervis is a novel participant,” says De Zerbi. “He’s a full-back however he assaults like a winger. Down the left aspect, we frequently play with two wingers. It [sounds] inconceivable to say, however it’s true.

“Estupinan is a key participant for us. He is taking part in in a unbelievable manner. I feel he is enhancing in a number of issues. He can enhance and develop into even higher, however he is nonetheless probably the greatest full-backs within the Premier League 1693035241.”

Talking on Monday Night time Soccer, Karen Carney defined how Brighton successfully use a ‘field midfield’, which consists of 4 gamers – two deeper pivots and two No 10s.

That midfield domination, coupled with the left-sided skew, produces the shot and chances-created maps displayed under – which reveals the places of Brighton’s league-topping numbers for photographs, targets and assists.

Urgent excessive is all the craze and Brighton are frightfully efficient at turnovers within the remaining third, normally utilizing a zonal one-man press to harry opponents as they try and construct from the again.

The chart under shows the common variety of opposition passes a staff permits earlier than making a defensive motion – so a decrease quantity is healthier. The Seagulls rank fourth within the league for this metric throughout the 2 video games – behind solely Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea.

“When we’ve got the ball, [I want my team] to maintain the main focus, create the precise situation,” says the Italian. “If we lose the ball, we’ve got to be able to react and never concede the counter. After we are defending, [we have to try and] take the ball again.

“We attempt to be very aggressive in each space of the pitch, however we all know if we play properly, if we work properly on this state of affairs, we’ve got the likelihood to attain – however we all the time need to be targeted as a result of we can also’t take any dangers. Sure, [it’s more zonal pressing]. In case you defend man to man, you’re taking dangers.”

There’s a league-wide pattern in the direction of recruiting younger gamers with excessive power to assist gasoline urgent from the entrance – one other rising pattern – however Brighton have maintained their effectiveness with a relatively older aspect to date this time period.

Certainly, most of Brighton’s big-money departures over the previous three seasons have been aged 24 and beneath, which may clarify why De Zerbi’s aspect presently rank because the second oldest within the division. So is he in search of that have or has it been pressured upon him?

“We misplaced three crucial gamers this summer time, Caicedo, Mac Allister and Levi Colwill, however we’re nonetheless a younger squad,” he says. “Welbeck has been taking part in as a result of his bodily situation is unimaginable, however we are able to play with two different gamers aged 18 or 19, no downside.

“I do not determine the beginning XI relying on the age. Age, for me, it isn’t vital. A very powerful issues is the standard. If an 18-year-old is healthier than a 33-year-old, then I’ve little doubt [playing the 18-year-old].

“(James) Milner has run like an 18-year-old and his expertise is unimaginable. His angle, his motivation and his behaviour. But when [Tariq] Lamptey deserves to play rather than Milner, I’d haven’t doubt and I’ve no downside.”

Recruitment perfection

It is nearly mind-boggling. In simply three years, Brighton have bought Ben White (£50m), Marc Cucurella (£63m), Yves Bissouma (£35m), Neal Maupay (£15m), Dan Burn £13m), Caicedo (£115m), Mac Allister (£55m), Landro Trossard (£27m) and Robert Sanchez (£25m). And they’re solely the offers exceeding £10m.

The membership has raked in near £400m in that point, of which £370m has come instantly from golf equipment belonging to the so-called ‘Huge Six’.

The signings this summer time stay comparatively modest, with Watford ahead Joao Pedro topping the pack along with his £30m price ticket.

Milner was drafted in on a free switch to ship expertise for the group, 18-year-old Noel Atom was snapped up from RB Leipzig, 25-year-old centre-back Igor Julio price £14.6m from Fiorentina, whereas Bart Verbruggen was signed for £16.3m to switch Chelsea-bound Sanchez.

The membership’s switch enterprise over the previous three years alone has produced staggering returns – exceeding £250m revenue. However is the mannequin sustainable? Can Brighton hold promoting their star gamers and unearthing new gems to switch them?

“It is one of many secrets and techniques at Brighton: our recruitment. The gamers are nice and it is simpler for me, or a coach, to work with nice gamers – however we want some new gamers,” says De Zerbi.

“We’re Brighton and we all know we are able to lose vital gamers on the finish of a season. It is not an issue. A very powerful [thing] is to search out the replacements, the precise replacements, the precise gamers – if we need to hold this degree. And we’ve got the identical motivation – the identical goal.

“After which, on the finish of the season, we are going to see. Ferguson, Enciso, Mitoma, [Jan Paul] van Hecke, [Billy] Gilmour, Lamptey – we’ve got a number of superb gamers we may promote sooner or later. However, within the current, I feel, and I hope, we are able to signal some gamers – as a result of we want it.”

Will Brighton make it three wins from three video games and preserve prime spot within the Premier League desk? Watch Brighton vs West Ham dwell on Sky Sports activities Premier League from 5pm on Saturday to search out out.

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