‘We will never change’: Roberto De Zerbi vows to stick with high-risk, attacking football despite Brighton’s sliding form as the Seagulls head to Ajax for crucial Europa League clash
- Brighton defeated Ajax 2-0 in a brilliant game when the sides last met
- Ajax are a club in crisis at the moment as they have started their league awfully
- Can Liverpool challenge for the title? Listen to the debate on It’s All Kicking Off
Roberto De Zerbi vowed to stick to his high-risk, attacking style despite Brighton’s sliding form and the complications of European football.
De Zerbi has seen his team win only once in eight games, a victory at home against Ajax.
‘We will never change,’ said the Brighton boss, ahead of Thursday night’s Europa League return fixture in Amsterdam. ‘And you know why? It is because we are not a big team.
‘A big team can think only of the result, can focus only on the result because in 90 minutes they can find the right moment to score or to defend well.
‘We have young players. I am a young coach and our style and spirit have been crucial. It is maybe the most important secret to compete in our style: to attack and defend with 11 players.’
Brighton and Roberto De Zerbi have only won one time in eight games so far this season
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Brighton have not won in five in the Premier League but they have grown into this Europa League campaign despite starting poorly, beaten at home by AEK Athens and two down at Marseille before fighting back for a draw.
They beat Ajax 2-0 at the Amex Stadium two weeks ago, but the four times European champions have improved since the appointment of interim boss John van’t Schip.
‘It will be a different game,’ said De Zerbi.
‘In terms of enthusiasm and attitude we will find a very different team.
‘But for us nothing changed. We dominated the first game against them and deserved to win. We could have scored more. I expect to see the same Brighton.’
BRIGHTON (probable, 4-2-3-1): Steele; Milner, Van Hecke, Dunk, Veltman; Gross, Gilmour; Adingra, Fati, Mitoma; Pedro. TV: LIVE on TNT Sports 2, kick-off 5.45pm.
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