Since taking over at Brighton, Fabian Hurzeler has proven to be a shrewd tactician, building on the foundations laid by his predecessor Roberto De Zerbi. The Seagulls are flying high, sitting seventh in the Premier League table, and Hurzeler’s bold approach has been key to their success.
Hurzeler’s tactics have been a tweak on De Zerbi’s methods, with a focus on overloading the opposition’s defense with attackers and midfielders. This approach has allowed Brighton to push defensive lines deeper and create more scoring opportunities.
One of the key principles of Hurzeler’s tactics is the use of directness in possession, with Brighton now playing more long balls to reach the final third quickly. This approach has resulted in Brighton’s average possession sequence being reduced to 3.5 passes, making them one of the most dynamic sides in the Premier League.
Out of possession, Hurzeler has employed a 5-4-1 mid-block, using Yankuba Minteh as a makeshift wing-back to form a five-man chain. This has improved Brighton’s defensive coverage and provided Joel Veltman with support against direct wingers.
Brighton’s compactness against the ball has seen them rank high in the league for pressing metrics, including pressures in the final third, pressed sequences, and counter-pressures.
At the heart of Brighton’s success is Jan Paul van Hecke, one of the finest ball-playing center-backs in the Premier League. Van Hecke’s ability to find Brighton’s attackers between the opposition lines has been crucial in turning defense into attack quickly.
In midfield, Alexis Baleba has become the heartbeat of the Albion team, recovering possession from opposition attackers more often than any other Brighton outfielder.
With a Wembley final potentially on the cards, Brighton continues to soar to higher levels under Hurzeler’s guidance. His bold ideas and bold players have given flight to European aspirations, and the Seagulls are now a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League.