Despite rumours linking him to Tottenham, Roberto De Zerbi is content at Brighton and Hove Albion and committed to helping the Seagulls break records this season.
Since taking over for Graham Potter in September, De Zerbi has made a significant impact at Brighton and helped the Seagulls contend for European qualification.
With three games remaining, Brighton is seven points behind fourth-placed Spurs in the Premier League standings. Their 43 goals this season are also a competition record.
With De Zerbi’s team performing well, he has been mentioned as a potential successor to Antonio Conte, who is expected to leave Spurs by the end of the current season, along with people like Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Frank, and Steve Cooper.
Asked about those links at a press conference ahead of Saturday’s trip to Leeds United, De Zerbi said: “I have a long contract with Brighton and I’m happy to work here.
“I’m enjoying working with these players, I’m delighted with my players for their performance and I can’t ask for more, it’s a good moment in my life.”
🧵- Welcome to @OptaJoe's Thursday Thread, where we'll look at the impact of Roberto De Zerbi since joining Brighton. Across Europe's top five leagues, only Barcelona (64%) & Bayern Munich (63%) have averaged more possession than the Seagulls (62%) since last October. Control. pic.twitter.com/tsii80Y1GT
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 9, 2023
head of the trip to Elland Road, Brighton are unbeaten in their last five Premier League away games (W3 D2), the joint-longest current run in the competition, alongside Brentford.
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Brighton have also failed to score just once in 11 away league games this term (0-2 at Brentford in October) – no Premier League side have drawn a blank on fewer road trips (Arsenal also one).
With Brighton earning plaudits for their enterprising style and with the race for European qualification wide open, De Zerbi is aware of the potential their campaign holds.
“People are speaking about our quality of play, and for that I am proud. But we have to be focused only on the next games. We have a clear target,” he said.
“We have a dream. We know we can write a new history for the club. This is a nice challenge.
“It will be difficult. We know what we can expect, but now we are able to win. I think now we have a complete squad with many young players, we are stronger.
“We want to arrive in Europe but we have to push and take it game by game. Tomorrow starts a difficult period with three games in a week, but we are ready to fight for our targets.”
Everything begins at the back for Brighton.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 9, 2023
Since the start of October, Lewis Dunk has averaged more passes per 90 than any other player in the Premier League (92.8). He also leads all defenders for involvement in build-up sequences that end with a shot (52). Initiator. pic.twitter.com/hetl5rHqa4