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Roberto De Zerbi mentioned Pep Guardiola is “nonetheless No 1” and revealed the Manchester Metropolis boss impressed him to turn into a coach, after Brighton held the champions to a 1-1 draw.
Guardiola lavished reward on his reverse quantity within the build-up to the sport on the Amex Stadium, describing the 43-year-old Italian, who has guided Brighton into subsequent yr’s Europa League, as “probably the most influential managers” of the final 20 years.
De Zerbi responded after the pair had gone face to face on the south coast, the place Julio Enciso’s gorgeous aim cancelled out Phil Foden’s opener in a frenetic sport, and mentioned he nonetheless regards the previous Barcelona and Bayern Munich because the world’s finest.
“I turned a coach due to him,” he mentioned to Sky Sports activities. “I do not know if it is a good factor or not, however I turned a coach for him as a result of I beloved his Barcelona and I studied him rather a lot.
“I do not love to repeat anyone, however I took [things from him] after I began to be a coach, and earlier than, additionally, after I completed as a participant. Pep continues to be No 1.”
The draw ensured Brighton will end in sixth place, making this the most effective season within the membership’s historical past, and De Zerbi was pleased with the “braveness” his gamers confirmed in going toe to toe with Guardiola’s.
“It was very powerful,” he mentioned. “We knew to play in opposition to Man Metropolis is all the time powerful. We performed very effectively, we deserved to make our level – and we should play within the Europa League.
“When the state of affairs was troublesome we did not lose our model. To press Man Metropolis man to man on each aspect of the pitch, I feel that’s braveness.”
De Zerbi, who additionally praised Enciso’s gorgeous equaliser as “unbelievable”, admitted he didn’t really feel a Europa League end was potential when he took the job following Graham Potter’s departure in September.
“No, however I did not take into consideration the desk,” he mentioned. “I wished to work and analyse the workforce, the gamers, perceive a brand new nation, a brand new league. After which, in February, I began to consider the aim.
“I am fortunate as a result of I discovered a incredible group of gamers. I am a very good coach however with out the gamers… When I’ve to analyse one thing in soccer, I all the time begin with the gamers.”
Pep: We drank all of the alcohol in Manchester
Guardiola, in the meantime, as soon as once more talked up De Zerbi’s Brighton after the sport and in addition acknowledged his satisfaction at how his aspect carried out so quickly after celebrating their Premier League title triumph.
“Distinctive sport,” he informed Sky Sports activities. “Congratulations to Brighton for his or her deserved qualification to the Europa League.
“The sport we performed, 40 hours after I feel we drank all of the alcohol in Manchester, confirmed the explanation why we’re the champion. I did not see any drop of depth in our concept. That they had probabilities, we had probabilities.
“This workforce destroy the opposite opponents, the best way they play, they usually did in sure moments tonight, particularly the final 10 or quarter-hour of the primary half, after we struggled. However the second half, we adjusted and we did rather well.
“It is regular that we may drop factors or slightly little bit of depth being champion, however I did not see it. Now, in the course of the week, we now have to relaxation and get better mentally.”
Rosenior: De Zerbi an absolute genius
Former Brighton defender and present Hull Metropolis supervisor Liam Rosenior was a part of the Sky Sports activities punditry workforce, and was left in awe of what he noticed from the 2 sides, describing De Zerbi as an “absolute genius” for a way he has reworked Brighton.
“Watching the match as a younger supervisor, the bravery of each coaches, the urgent that they gave to the sport, the very fact they have been keen to go one to 1 with the most effective striker on the planet, that is the bravery,” he mentioned.
“That claims every little thing about the best way De Zerbi is teaching this workforce. I feel he is an absolute genius.
“I do know Pep mentioned it yesterday, and I will say it now, there are specific coaches who come alongside – [Arrigo] Sacchi with Milan, Pep has come alongside and adjusted the sport…
“What De Zerbi is doing with this Brighton workforce is one thing completely different, one thing new in scary the press in the best way they construct, they scored once more from the goalkeeper tonight.”
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