Football
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Saturday’s Premier League game against Sunderland
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
- Hurzeler provided an update on the fitness of Lewis Dunk and Jack Hinshelwood: “Lewis will be back and Jack trained this week. With him, we have to see if it makes sense to take him into the squad because the next weeks will be busy and we have a lot of games. It is about managing the players and understanding who is really available but not risking anything. Overall, these two players are definitely available.”
- Mats Wieffer, Yankuba Minteh and Kaoru Mitoma are “getting closer but not fit yet” and “hopefully we will see them soon back in the squad”, meanwhile longer-term absentee Stefanos Tzimas is “doing well and progressing but it is still early”, and Evan Ferguson is “similar where we have to wait some more weeks”.
- He also confirmed Yasin Ayari is fine and available after picking up an illness on international duty with Sweden, but while Summer signing Femi Azeez did feature in a friendly during the break he will be a late decision following some “minor issues”.
- On the three-week international break: “A few players went away and had different experiences, but overall the atmosphere in the building is very positive and energetic. It’s quite loud, everyone has something to tell, and it’s nice to have the players back and enjoy the atmosphere.”
- Hurzeler praised Pascal Gross after the 35-year-old’s fine form earned him the September Premier League player of the month award: “Like a good wine, the older the better. It’s no surprise they show these kind of performances. The award is not a one-man show, it is togetherness. It’s just a reflection of the hard effort and hard work and they show this every day. It is a reward for that.”
- On balancing domestic and upcoming European games: “We want to have this challenge, that is the next step for the club – to compete in multiple competitions. That is what we want to achieve. We see it more as an opportunity than a problem. We have good depth, good availability, and now it is about managing the players.”
- The Brighton boss was not drawn into giving his opinion on the guilty verdicts handed to Manchester City in relation to breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules: “I can’t control anything from that. The only thing I can really focus on is our preparation, how we are doing, and therefore it is just a distraction that is not in our hands. Hopefully it will be dealt with, but my topic, and I have enough topics to mention.”
- On what impact waiting on the sanctions could have: “Let’s see how it’s going. What I heard is that there is still some ongoing processes so therefore it is really difficult to say anything now. If there is nothing clear, we should really focus on ourselves and if there are results, we can speak again.”
- On the challenge posed by the Black Cats: “There is always a fight in Sunderland because it is a very physical team. It is a great stadium with very loud supporters.”
Pascal Gross sets Premier League age record for assists in three consecutive matches
Midfielder Pascal Gross of Brighton has become the oldest player in the past 14 years to register an assist in three consecutive Premier League matches.
The 35-year-old German provided an assist in the away match of matchday 6 of the English championship against Sunderland. Brighton defeated their opponents 2:0. Previously, he assisted his teammates in matches against Coventry (5:0) and Arsenal (3:0).
According to Opta, at the moment of his third consecutive assist, Groß was 35 years and 117 days old. The last time an older player recorded assists in three straight Premier League matches was in February 2012 – Ryan Giggs did it for Manchester United. At that time, the Welshman was 38 years and 68 days old.
