Head coach Roberto De Zerbi expresses concern over Brighton’s defensive performance in the Premier League, attributing it to the summer departures of Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister. The midfield duo played a crucial role for De Zerbi’s team before Mac Allister joined Liverpool in June and Caicedo moved to Chelsea in a £115 million deal in August.
As a result, Brighton is currently on a club-record run of 22 league games without keeping a clean sheet. De Zerbi acknowledges that Billy Gilmour and Joao Pedro, who have replaced Caicedo and Mac Allister, are not at the same level yet but believes they have the potential to reach or even surpass their predecessors.
De Zerbi highlights the differences between Joao Pedro and Alexis, noting that Alexis often played as the No. 10 last season, providing control in the game. However, with the current formation of four attackers, Brighton’s style has become more vertical and focused on scoring quickly, which leaves them vulnerable to counter-attacks.
While De Zerbi acknowledges that the absence of a player with defensive characteristics like Caicedo has contributed to conceding more goals, he believes that the main issue lies in the team’s mentality and attitude. Brighton has conceded goals that they shouldn’t have due to lapses in concentration.
Interestingly, Brighton has managed to keep four consecutive clean sheets in the Europa League but has struggled to replicate this form in the Premier League. De Zerbi attributes this disparity to the team’s mentality and their lack of determination not to concede goals.
In addition to their defensive struggles, Brighton is currently dealing with eight injured first-team players ahead of their match against Tottenham. Pervis Estupinan and Adam Lallana are only fit enough for the bench. Despite these challenges, Brighton has performed admirably in the Europa League, topping their group and securing a spot in the last 16.
De Zerbi expresses pride in his team’s achievements, considering it their first time competing in the Europa League. He acknowledges that there is room for improvement, particularly in reducing the number of goals conceded. However, he commends the young players for their quality of play and believes that Brighton is performing better this season compared to the previous one.
Although the first eleven last season may have been stronger than the current lineup, injuries have forced De Zerbi to rely on young players. Despite these setbacks, Brighton continues to compete at their best and strive for improvement.
Overall, De Zerbi remains optimistic about Brighton’s performance and is proud of the progress they have made. He recognizes the challenges they face but believes that with time and development, they can continue to excel.