In Brighton, we are experiencing a bit of a roller coaster at the start of the season. The club is capable of outclassing Manchester United at Old Trafford (3-1) and Newcastle at home (3-1), as well as having a non-match against AEK Athens (3-2) or even collapsing at Birmingham against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa this Saturday (6-1). Roberto De Zerbi’s men had a terrible afternoon at Villa Park, notably crushed by a hat-trick from Ollie Watkins. The Villans also took advantage of this to steal 3rd place in the Premier League from their opponent of the day.
“We played a very bad match, without energy, without mental energy. The biggest responsibility is mine because I am a coach” assures De Zerbi in a post-match press conference. He still scolds his players, who according to him will have to work harder because we have to continue on several tables this season. A real novelty for Brighton. “We have to adapt this season. It’s totally different from last season. It’s very hard, we play every three days.”
From Zerbi: “it wasn’t the real Brighton”
The manner of losing and the magnitude of the score are enough to worry the Italian technician, at a time when his team already no longer has many wildcards in the Europa League after its first defeat in the group stage. “We want to participate in all competitions and we have to show whether we are ready or not. When you play like today, the responsibility lies with the coach.continues the 44-year-old technician, who already knows that another big piece awaits him next Thursday (5:45 p.m.) in a Vélodrome which promises to be once again incandescent.
“There was no battle today. Aston Villa are a very good team, they have a great manager and players. It wasn’t the real Brighton., he blurted out while promising to show a completely different side to Marseille. Conversely, this defeat can be seen as good news for OM. After a very hectic last 10 days, the Phocaeans are moving forward a little into the unknown before the premiere of Gennaro Gattuso this evening at Louis II against Monaco (9 p.m.). The draw obtained in Amsterdam (3-3) relieves them of a little pressure, where the Seagulls no longer really have the right to make mistakes.
