AliousFabian Hurzeler showcased both his tactical brilliance and newfound English vocabulary as Brighton staged an impressive comeback to defeat Chelsea in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday night. Goals from Georginio Rutter and Kaoru Mitoma secured a 2-1 victory for the Seagulls, marking their first home win since November.
This performance came just a week after Brighton’s humiliating 7-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, making the triumph even more remarkable. Despite that crushing loss, Hurzeler made only one change to the lineup, bringing Carlos Baleba back into the squad while Joao Pedro was benched.
With a beaming smile at the post-match press conference, Hurzeler responded to the opening question about the team’s response to last weekend’s thrashing. “Yeah, I think you could say it like this,” he replied before adding with a chuckle, “I learned another sentence – just what the doctor ordered.” The German coach praised his team’s resilience, saying, “It was a great reaction. We bounced back after a tough week.”
Brighton’s character was tested early when a costly error from goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen gifted Chelsea the lead within the first five minutes. Yet Hurzeler was quick to defend his shot-stopper, stating, “It’s not easy to come back like this and play with such intensity. I won’t talk too much with Bart about the mistake because these things happen. If a goalkeeper makes an error, it usually leads to a goal, but he’s a great lad. He’s shown impressive performances and will bounce back mentally.”
Relief was evident as Hurzeler reflected on securing a home victory after months of struggles. “It felt amazing to hear the fans singing again, to feel their support, and to celebrate this win together. It wasn’t just the team on the pitch; the fans played a big role too. It was a victory of togetherness.”
While thrilled with the win, Hurzeler stressed the importance of maintaining perspective. “You shouldn’t get too euphoric after a win or too panicked after a bad loss. Staying calm, grounded, and focused on solutions is key. That’s what I expect from myself and from the team.”
He concluded by setting high expectations for the future: “Tonight’s performance is a benchmark. It shows how hard we can work on the pitch. Now, the challenge is to deliver that level consistently.”
Alious
