The 2023/24 season has been a history-making marketing campaign for Brighton. Their first foray into Europe – and their first time reaching the knockout rounds – in addition to persevering with to compete within the Premier League.
However the Seagulls additionally prime the desk in additional obscure phrases. They’ve already made 70 adjustments to their Premier League beginning XIs this yr – 26 greater than the following highest staff, Nottingham Forest – as they adapt to the ‘three video games every week’ schedule that comes with Europa League soccer.
So as to add some extra context, Brighton solely made 79 beginning XI adjustments within the entirety of final season, in addition to utilizing essentially the most Premier League substitutes this marketing campaign too (81).
It has not at all times been an strategy welcomed by Seagulls followers, however De Zerbi defined why he has used such heavy rotation and, in his view, why it’s working.
“I don’t love changing too many players every game, but I must do it,” he mentioned forward of Thursday’s recreation with Crystal Palace, stay on Sky Sports activities.
“I am unable to do one thing totally different, or there’s a danger to lose different gamers. Now we have now 15 gamers who’re capable of play and I believe we’re doing a very good job as a result of we attain the highest of the desk within the Europa League in a really robust group.
“We are in a good position in the table in the Premier League, especially if you think we lost six points at home playing very well, but conceding stupid goals and not scoring the right goals. But I think we are doing something important.”
One place that has seen 11 adjustments already this season is between goalkeepers Jason Steele and Bart Verbruggen.
Neither have began greater than two Premier League video games in a row this time period, however are the 2 finest goalkeepers within the league for passing accuracy, highlighting their significance to De Zerbi’s play.
However Brighton have additionally didn’t hold a clear sheet in 21 league video games, though apparently, did hold 4 of their six Europa League fixtures.
Discussing the rotation of his goalkeepers, De Zerbi mentioned: “I’m lucky because I have two goalkeepers who are great. I don’t want to lose anyone and Brighton want to keep both inside of the plan.
“It is my accountability and resolution when one among them has to play and when the opposite would not.
“In the last transfer market, we sold [Moises] Caicedo, [Alexis] Mac Alliser and [Levi] Colwill was on loan, but he played a lot of us last year.
“We misplaced three vital, essential gamers and one a part of my work is to assist the younger gamers to grow to be higher as a result of the coverage of Brighton is like this. If I settle for working right here, I’ve to handle in that path.”
It’s this strategy to youth that has been important as Brighton grapple with accidents to numerous key gamers, additionally including to the necessity for rotation. The checklist for Thursday’s match at Crystal Palace consists of Adam Webster, Tariq Lamptey, Solly March and Pervis Estupinan amongst others.
However De Zerbi is utilizing the chance to blood some new expertise – together with 21-year-old Verbruggen. In 2023, 4 youngsters have additionally scored Premier League targets for Brighton in 2023 – Evan Ferguson, Julio Enciso, Facundo Buonanotte and Jack Hinshelwood – which is joint-most by a Premier League staff in a calendar yr together with Everton in 1997.
“First of all, we have eight injuries with important players and then we are playing three games per week and we are not used to playing so many games,” De Zerbi defined.
“So we have to turn the problems into opportunities. We are lucky because we have a great academy and one part of our work to permit the young players to become better at playing.
“I search for character, initially. Then the standard to be a participant within the Premier League – bodily, technically, mentally, the whole lot that vital to play in Premier League. In any other case it is robust.”
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from the Premier League match between Arsenal and Brighton
Thursday marks De Zerbi’s fiftieth Premier League recreation in control of Brighton. You’d be forgiven for pondering the Italian had been in England for a lot longer than his 15 months, such has been his influence.
De Zerbi factors to latest Europa League successes as a few of his highlights, reflecting: “I am spending a lot of great moments [here]. Two of them are when we qualified for the Europa League last season against Southampton at home and the second was Thursday with Marseille at home [Brighton won 1-0 late on to reach the last-16].
“It has been an awesome expertise working within the Premier League too. It is one of the best league on this planet and it is an honour and a dream for me to compete towards the likes of [Pep] Guardiola, [Jurgen] Klopp, [Mauricio] Pochettino, [Ange] Postecoglu, [Unai] Emery, a whole lot of huge coaches and I’ve to offer my finest every single day.
“I feel the responsibility to keep my seat [as manager] so we keep going, we keep working with the same attitude, the same passion and the same behaviour.”
Joao Pedro sealed a Europa League final 16 spot for Brighton with a late aim towards Marseille on Thursday
Out of these 49 video games, De Zerbi is unbeaten in Brighton’s grudge derby towards Crystal Palace, drawing one and successful one other earlier this yr. The Eagles too will likely be buoyed by their beautiful 2-2 draw towards Manchester Metropolis on Saturday.
“It will be one of the toughest games of the season, but we are looking forward to playing and making our fans happy,” he mentioned of the sport, stay on Sky Sports activities.
“It will be a very physical game and Crystal Palace have great players, like [Eberechi] Eze, [Michael] Olise, [Marc] Guehi, [Cheick] Doucoure. But we have to be focused on ourselves, our play, our style and the result because we are losing too many points and we have to try to react.
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“Before I came here, I didn’t know the importance of this game. But I am from Brescia and the derby there is against Atalanta so I can understand the fans, what they can feel in these days before the game.”
It will be an early Christmas current if Brighton can win a second successive recreation towards Crystal Palace, and with 2024 quick approaching, De Zerbi has only one New 12 months’s want.
“I would like to recover the injured players,” he mentioned. “Maybe not all the injuries, but 80 per cent would be important for us because if we want to reach the results, you need the quality of the players.
“So the whole squad after which to get pleasure from, taking part in with pleasure, with braveness, with our qualities.”
Until his injury list eases – and with the Europa League last 16 coming in March – De Zerbi’s rotation is likely to continue. But he has already proven what can be achieved with a great coach, talented youngsters and plenty of heart.
