Roberto De Zerbi says he ‘became a coach for Pep Guardiola’ as Brighton draw against Man City
‘I became a coach for Pep Guardiola’: Roberto De Zerbi lauds the Spanish manager as ‘number one’ as Brighton hold Man City to a 1-1 draw before claiming ‘we deserve to play in Europe’
Roberto De Zerbi has lumped praise on Pep Guardiola claiming that he ‘became a coach for the Spanish manager’ before admitting the Man City boss was still ‘number one’.
After the Citizens were crowned Premier League champions on Sunday, Brighton held the title holders to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday night, with Julio Enciso cancelling out Phil Foden’s strike in the first half, with a stunning 25-yard effort.
With City now set to challenge for the treble, with an FA Cup final and a Champions League final on the horizon, De Zerbi took the time after Wednesday’s game, to laud one of his heros, Guardiola.
‘I became a coach for Guardiola because I loved his Barcelona,’ he said.
‘I studied him a lot, I didn’t copy him but I took when I started to be a coach, before when I finished to be a player.
‘Pep is still number one.’
The Italian also lauded team and their performances this season, with Brighton having now qualified for the Europa League, finishing seventh in the Premier League standings.
De Zerbi: ‘It was very tough but we knew to play against City is always tough, we played very well, we deserved to get a point, we deserve to play in Europe.
‘The courage. To defend man to man, to play the ball in every situation. We didn’t lose our style.
‘Julio’s goal was incredible. He has big, big potential, I want him to play better and play for the team. If he stays with us I think he can improve.’
Speaking on the season, the 43-year-old claimed he was ‘lucky to have found’ his current group of players, after he succeeded Graham Potter back in September last year.
‘I didn’t think about the target, I wanted to work and to analyse the team and the players, to understand the new country, the new league.
‘In February I started to think about the goal.’
‘The Premier League is a fantastic competition, the atmosphere is fantastic in every game, there isn’t too much tactical, you play against teams with courage, you try to win the game and not defend counter-attack.
‘I have to say I’m lucky because I found a fantastic group of players. I am a normal coach, a good coach. When I have to analyse I always start with the quality of the players.’
More to follow…
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