Fabian Hürzeler appeals to Brighton’s “blue heads” to turn the tables on the forest | Brighton and Hove Albion

WEre Fabian Hürzeler in any doubt about the importance of FA CUP For the fans of Brighton, he received a kind reminder when he returned to his hometown in Munich. Hürzeler’s short international break, between family and friends, received an educated but episode interruption. “Walking through the city, one of Brighton’s supporters called my name and said he can’t wait to play the game,” said the club’s leader. “He said we have to give everything in this game and, of course, you feel it, but for me it is important that we do not do it artificial excitement.”

Hürzeler, born a decade after Albion lost the 1983 final At Manchester United in a replay, it can be apologized for not having known the tradition of Steve Foster’s band, Captain Hirsute of Tony Galish and the striker “Must Segne” by Gordon Smith. There are always the owner, Tony Bloom, and the staff served in the time of the club to run through the details. In any case, Brighton saw that the two seasons of Wembley Day Fa, another Hardest loss for United In the semifinal, this time on the penalties.

The German prefers to be turned forward. At 32, it can only learn at work and the signs are that it quickly learns from the inversions. Saturday, Brighton face Nottingham Forest, Who beat them 7-0 February 1st. Since then, Hürzeler’s team has come across and the mid -week returns to the action of the Premier League in seventh place, a closing point of the fifth and probable Champions League. An open draw, only Manchester City that remains of the usual suspicions, made the England Cup an achievable goal, Brighton one of the four quarters of finalists for never having won a large trophy.

“It is very important not to react excessively and understand what makes us strong as a team,” said Hürzeler. “This was exactly the case when we lost against Nottingham. Especially the players took a lot of properties. They took a lot of responsibility and said:” Ok, we have to go back to the roots “.

“We must have this whole, we must remain united, not only in good phases but also in negative phases, and so far we have shown this season, especially after the loss against Nottingham. We have shown the spirit of union, and the last thing, especially at this stage of the season, you must have the belief, and I have the greatest conviction in this group.”

The forest will be Without the injured Chris Woodwho took a Ball’s defense ball on the city’s land in February, marking a hat -trick. Hürzeler offers full compared to his opposite number, Nuno Espírito Santo: “He built a winning machine. They have players who have qualities and a style that completely adapt to the player’s profiles. It is something special. This shows its quality.”

Hürzeler, as Frontman of the acclaimed executive structure of Brighton, is very different from his predecessor Roberto De Zerbi, who in turn could not have been more different from Graham Potter. The Italian was the contracted tactical revolutionary that briefly became the hottest name in football. Potter affirmed itself as the most stable of the hands. Hürzeler offers something else, although perhaps even something in the middle. When it is appointed last July, she spoke of “challenging the plant” and yet she developed Brighton in a often methodical and common way. The time spent in his company reveals a passionate belief in the power of psychology and mentality.

Hürzeler drew inspiration from the unlikely – for a German world – of a rugby union: “The loss against Nottingham was a great loss, but it was also a loss that helped us in our development. Now it is important to find a good balance. There is a book on all blacks and talk about the red head and blue head, the fresh head.

“And if you are always in the red head and act with too much emotion, saying: ‘We have to take revenge, we are angry for having beaten to seven zero,’ I think you are too much in the emotional part of your mind and that is why it is so important to stay in the blue phase, in the fresh head, make decisions without emotions, remains rational.”

Where many clubs choose to give priority, perhaps also the forest of third place, with their gold chance of playing Football Champions League next season, Hürzeler claims to have no Bloom pressure or by the CEO, Paul Barber, to reimburse for one competition on the other, even if the Champions League has arrived at a contact distance.

“We try to enter every competition to reach the maximum, we try to go to every game and win it, so this is our approach, our thoughts, and therefore we do not have this type of discussions. It is a matter of building the rhythm, keeping the connection, building this consistency and therefore I am not a big fan of making too many rotations, too many changes in the initial 11th.”

If the England Cup has lost their shine because the managers rotate their teams to focus on championship issues, including those lower in the football league, the former St Pauli coach presents a different way of thought. If Brighton is to reach European football next season, fatigue could become greater concern. At least for this season, Hürzeler seems convinced that much remains in the mind.

“I think that when the players feel in good shape, they are in a good mood, they have a lot of confidence in themselves. They are confident and want to be on the pitch. This is my feeling; the mind can decide the feeling in the field, so the players do not feel this tiredness, and therefore I am not a fan to make too many changes.”