AliousFabian Hürzeler, the manager of Brighton and Hove Albion, has encouraged his team to remain composed as they prepare to face Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup quarter-final at the Amex Stadium on Saturday, March 29, 2025.
Despite the match presenting a potentially groundbreaking moment for the club, Hürzeler is focused on keeping expectations in check. Brighton, along with Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, and Fulham, are among the four remaining teams in the competition that have yet to secure a major trophy.
Crystal Palace has already advanced to the semi-finals with a convincing 3-0 victory over Fulham, thanks to Eberechi Eze’s continued fine form following his performance for England against Latvia.
With most of the Premier League’s traditional powerhouses eliminated—leaving only a struggling Manchester City from the “big six”—this year’s FA Cup offers a rare chance for an unexpected winner to claim the historic trophy.
A victory today would send Brighton to another Wembley semi-final, but Hürzeler is intent on downplaying the magnitude of the occasion to maintain his players’ focus. “We feel it, but I don’t want to overhype it artificially,” he remarked.
“Yes, it’s a significant game, but it’s like every other match where we aim to push ourselves and improve. We all recognize the opportunity, but we need to treat it with the same approach as any other fixture.”
Hürzeler emphasized that his measured stance isn’t due to a lack of confidence in his squad’s potential to achieve something memorable this season.
He highlighted three core strengths that have defined Brighton’s success: intensity to outwork opponents, unity in both good and tough times, and belief in their capabilities—qualities he’s confident will shine through.
“I have the utmost faith in this group,” he said. “They can win, and they can create a season that sticks in everyone’s memory. But to do that, we can’t force it.”
The manager avoided dwelling on past setbacks, notably a humiliating 7-0 loss to Nottingham Forest last month at the City Ground, where ex-Brighton striker Chris Wood scored three times in the club’s worst defeat in over six decades.
“I’m not going into that,” Hürzeler stated. “The players took responsibility and refocused on what makes us strong—teamwork, intensity, and the conviction we can beat anyone.”
Brighton’s defense will breathe easier knowing Wood is sidelined for this match due to a hip injury picked up while playing for New Zealand. However, Hürzeler faces his own injury challenges, with full-back Tariq Lamptey still unavailable after missing recent games, compounding concerns following injuries to Joel Veltman and Pervis Estupinan.
On a positive note, captain Lewis Dunk and midfielder Matt O’Riley are back in contention after recovering from their respective setbacks.
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