Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler says Roberto De Zerbi will have to adapt his tactical approach to save Tottenham Hotspur’s season.
Brighton are pushing to reach Europe again after five wins in six league games under Hurzeler, while Spurs are deep in relegation trouble going into De Zerbi’s first home game in charge on Saturday – against the club he guided to Europe for the first time in 2022-23.
At Brighton, De Zerbi was praised for the way his side baited the opposition press and executed precise patterns of play that started with the goalkeeper.
But Hurzeler told a press conference on Friday: “There are always new trends. Two or three years ago it was a completely different football game to now. There are different demands in the Premier League. They are much more physical games. Players are more physical, receptions (of the ball) get much more important. So, you see a new trend in football.
“You cannot say that the football that was successful two, three or four years ago will be successful today. It’s an ongoing process for us as coaches. You have to over think your idea without losing your foundation, your key principles.”
Hurzeler sought advice from De Zerbi before and after succeeding him as Brighton boss (Mike Hewitt / Getty Images)
De Zerbi left Brighton at the end of the 2023-24 season due to disagreements over recruitment policy, before an eventful 18 months at Marseille ended in February by mutual consent.
Hurzeler is grateful for the legacy he inherited from De Zerbi and help he received before and after taking over at Brighton. He spent time at the training ground in December 2023 during a visit organised by Brighton’s German midfielder Pascal Gross, coincidentally watching De Zerbi’s side beat Tottenham 4-2 at the Amex Stadium on his way to steering St Pauli to promotion to the Bundesliga in his homeland. He succeeded De Zerbi in June 2024.
“It was very nice that he welcomed me into this environment and I still appreciate it,” Hurzeler told The Athletic. “This time helped me to understand the challenges here, how the club is working, how everything goes. Therefore, when I started here as coach, looking back to these two or three days, they were quite helpful, although I never thought then that I might one day be head coach here. Overall it was very important to have this exchange.
“I’m a young manager. I’ve always had the approach of never being satisfied. I always want to make the next step regarding learning, because there are always things you can improve as a person, as a coach. That is an ongoing process.”
Hurzeler, 33, also had discussions with De Zerbi when he was appointed as his Brighton successor in June 2024. “When I started here we had some messages, some phone calls,” he said.
“I congratulated him for what he achieved and then it was more about getting an understanding of the players, the environment and how things are working here. I think everyone who worked with him is looking forward to seeing him at the weekend. He deserves the praise, but we will both put the focus on trying to win the game.”
Hurzeler will be watching from the stands at Tottenham as he completes a two-match ban for accumulating six yellow cards.
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