Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi attributed his team’s heavy defeat to Aston Villa to a lack of “mental vigor” in what he described as a “disappointing match” on Saturday.
Aston Villa triumphed 6-1 at Villa Park, with Ollie Watkins netting a hat-trick, alongside goals from Jacob Ramsey, Douglas Luiz, and an unfortunate own goal by Pervis Estupinan. Although Ansu Fati managed to score a consolation goal when the score was 3-0, it was an overall dismal performance for Brighton.
After the match, De Zerbi took full responsibility for the outcome, pointing out that his squad was drained due to the demanding schedule of playing matches every three days.
He stated, “Our performance today was subpar, lacking both physical and mental stamina. The primary responsibility falls on me as the coach.”
De Zerbi emphasized the need for adaptation in this season, noting the stark contrast to the previous one and the rigorous schedule his team faces.
He expressed the team’s ambition to compete in various competitions and acknowledged that their readiness would be on display.
Critically, he acknowledged the coach’s role in the lackluster display, saying, “Today’s performance reflects on me. I have an exceptional group of individuals in the dressing room who have worked tirelessly to reach this level, but we’re not quite there yet. We’re progressing toward the level needed to compete this season and bring joy to our supporters.”
During his post-match press conference, De Zerbi also acknowledged the quality of Aston Villa, describing them as a formidable team with a talented coach and players. He concluded by stating that the match did not represent the true capabilities of Brighton.
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