Fabian Hurzeler will ‘stay humble’ despite impressive start to life at Brighton

Posted Sunday, August 18, 2024 by PA

New Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler is not getting carried away after marking his Premier League debut with a 3-0 victory at 10-man Everton.

The 31-year-old, who arrived from St Pauli in the summer, saw goals from Kaoru Mitoma, Danny Welbeck and Simon Adingra burst the early-season optimism at Goodison Park.

And he was pleased to see the work he has done in pre-season pay off.

“I’m very happy, it’s a good start but nothing more and it’s important to stay humble after this,” said the German, who is the youngest permanent manager in Premier League history.

“It’s a very good feeling but I don’t want to talk about myself, the players deserved this. They worked hard in pre-season and I’m very proud of them.

“It was a good result, very intense. In some moments we suffered but after a time we tried to control the game, had good chances, then went 1-0 up.

“In the end the clean sheet was important and we showed attitude and character.”

Hurzeler’s biggest issue on the day was handling the disappointment of new signing Yankuba Minteh, who was causing Everton problems down their left before a head injury forced him off in the first half – against his wishes.

“He was disappointed but in the end we are disappointed for the player and can’t take any risks, the health of the player is more important and we were responsible for that,” said the Seagulls boss.

“We have to keep looking at him and how he reacts. I am confident he will be back next week. He had a great impact but I judge my offensive players on how they work off the ball.

“I wasn’t surprised he had that performance. I saw it in pre-season.”

Everton manager Sean Dyche saw his only fit right-back, Ashley Young, sent off for denying Mitoma in the 66th minute after a penalty award to his side just after the interval was overturned when VAR advised referee Simon Hooper to go to the pitchside monitor.

“A big decision on the penalty, I can’t really work it out,” Dyche said.

“We go to these meetings, we have literally been told the bar is going to be incredibly high for the referee to make a decision, he makes a clear decision from a perfect viewing point and lo and behold he is called over to overturn the decision.

“You are like, ‘What is the point having a high bar then?’ We are all confused by it.”

On the performance itself, Dyche added: “It was a horrible game as a manager when you are doing everything you ask and concede a pretty soft goal from our point of view, a soft pass and they counter and we are 1-0 down against the run of play.

“We then concede from a poor decision from a pass and then get someone sent off and the whole feeling changes.

“Unfortunately we had these moments early last season, head scratchers. The first half was a good performance. We got punished for mistakes.

“Youngy knows he should head that and not bring it down (for the sending-off). Those turning points and decisions are massive.”