Beijing Time (BST) September 17, in a thrilling Carabao Cup third-round match, Brighton & Hove Albion came from 2-0 down away from home to beat Manchester United 3-2. At the post-match press conference, Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler specifically praised the team's cohesion and confidence.

That was an incredible comeback. Did you always believe the team could do it?

«Yes, I absolutely had strong conviction. I think this conviction is the greatest reward of our preparation. Because when you come here, in such an away environment against a team like Manchester United, you must maintain conviction. You must have confidence at every stage of the match. And to show this conviction even when down 2-0 demonstrates true resilience and shows that we are truly united.»

«There is a strong bond between the players; they can truly trust each other and rely on one another, and that's precisely what we don't see on television. We always focus on goals, chances, and tactical approaches, but ultimately, the foundation and key to this victory is precisely this cohesion, this connection, and the relationships they've built on the pitch. I think as the match progressed, we became more integrated into the game and gradually took control of the situation. In the end, I think it was a well-deserved victory.»

Your record here is excellent; does that affect the players' mindset?

«I don't know how many players on the pitch today experienced those previous victories; we had many new faces today. But what we've always emphasized is that as long as we play at our level and maintain high standards, we can compete with any team in the league. That's our mindset, our approach to the game, and the message we're trying to convey to the players.»

This was a completely new lineup, and previously against Chelsea you conceded three goals quickly, but this time you led the team to bounce back rapidly after going down. How do you cultivate this cohesion and resilience?

«It always comes down to the players, and I must give them a lot of credit. Ultimately, I call them 'social leaders'—players like Jason Steele, Pascal Gross, Lewis Dunk, and so on. Social leaders are very important to me because they can quickly integrate new players and help them understand Brighton's values and philosophy. Moreover, they build genuine bonds between players of different nationalities. I think that's incredibly important; it's work that cannot be quantified, but for me, it's crucial.»

«It's our foundation; it allows us to build this trust and reliability on the pitch. Having these social leaders who can understand different dynamics and bring everyone together is extremely critical, and we must not underestimate it, because it will always be our cornerstone.»

Have you seen the draw? Your difficult schedule continues.

«We accept it calmly; I'm not here to complain. We want to go as far as possible, so let's see who we face next. Ultimately, if you want to win silverware, you must perform at the highest level in every match. Perhaps we'll return to Manchester, perhaps not; we'll find out then. But overall, for now, we should first focus on the match against Arsenal. We need to recover well and then have another home match, hopefully delivering an energetic and intense performance in front of our supporters.»

Regarding Arsenal, you mentioned conviction at the start. Before that match, you must have felt the team was unstoppable, right?

«No, I think we must remain very, very humble now and understand why we are where we are today. It's about doing the basics well, getting every small detail right. Therefore, we must always keep that in mind, remain humble, and not take anything for granted. When we step onto the pitch, we must understand: this is another difficult challenge, do the basics well, and then we can gradually build momentum. Then we'll rediscover that conviction—that we are a good team.»

Saturday is a big day for the club, celebrating its 125th anniversary. You haven't been at the club long, but when you come to away grounds like this and win so frequently, what's your view on Brighton's position in English and European football?

«We are a well-structured club. I want to emphasize that we are a club with very high ambitions. We want to continue to grow, to challenge the traditional powers sustainably. For that, I think it's very important that we always focus on daily actions, because daily actions shape habits, and habits create this stability that can continually challenge the big clubs.»

«I'm part of that, and I feel very honored to be Brighton's head coach. Therefore, I always try to do my best with my coaching staff and with the players to make our supporters proud. Because ultimately, we need everyone to succeed, we need everyone to grow together. We want to move forward step by step, but we absolutely have a great culture, and our culture will always be our foundation.»

Many midfielders were sold for exorbitant fees this summer, but how do you assess Pascal Gross's value? You mentioned his social contributions to the team, but from a playing perspective?

«I think he has an excellent understanding of the game. I compare him to fine wine; the older it gets, the better it is. Therefore, Pascal deserves a lot of credit. One thing we shouldn't underestimate is that he runs in every match, covering around 12 kilometers per game. With players like that, you can play high-intensity football.»

«I think one of his strengths is certainly his extensive running and deep understanding of the game; moreover, he has a winning mentality. Young players can benefit from that, and for me, he's a great leader; it's really a pleasure to work with him.»

Can I ask about the atmosphere at Old Trafford in the last 20 to 30 minutes? As you said, your team gradually took control of the match, and we're perhaps used to seeing Manchester United launch an assault in the final 10 minutes, but that didn't happen today. Do you think the anxious atmosphere in the stadium helped your team?

«I wasn't paying attention to the atmosphere in the stadium, because that's something I can't control. For my part, I really try to focus on what I can control. That's also why we tried to put pressure on the opponent even in the final minutes. We don't want to be a team that retreats; we want to control possession, we want to continue scoring goals and play high-intensity football.»

«This proves that, especially when you're leading, you shouldn't change your style of play. You should put pressure on the opponent, you should try to stick to the established tactical approach. Because if you try to make changes in the final 5 to 10 minutes, you'll lose the connection on the pitch, and that's what we're trying to avoid.»

Traduit par IA.

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