‘I can also learn’: Brighton’s Hürzeler keen to get advice from senior players
Aged 31, Fabian Hürzeler is not shy about learning from his squad and is also building strong links with his new club’s fans
At just 31, Fabian Hürzeler is the youngest permanent manager the Premier League has ever seen, but that doesn’t mean he is afraid to seek advice from the more experienced members of his squad. Take Danny Welbeck for example: the former England striker scored the second goal in Brighton’s impressive 3-0 victory at Everton on the opening weekend of the new season and spent almost 13 years at Manchester United, who Hürzeler’s side face on Saturday in his first home match. So who better to ask for tips about overcoming Erik ten Hag’s side?
“That’s one of my styles to lead – I’m listening to the experienced players because I can also learn from them,” explained the German manager, who ended his playing career at the age of 23 to concentrate on coaching and is more than two years younger than Welbeck. “That’s something very open and the players know it. In the end they have experienced more things on the pitch than me – I’m not afraid of saying that because it’s true. I can learn from them and hear their opinions to help me prepare for a match against Manchester United. Danny Welbeck played there and maybe he has some more knowledge about the club and about the behaviour of their players. I would be silly if I didn’t use it. In the end, of course, it’s my job to make the decisions and the clear preparation to have the right match plan for a great opponent.”
