De Zerbi: We have a big challenge

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Head coach is confident his players can show the right reaction against Nottingham Forest today.

Bruce Talbot

2024-03-10T07:00:00Z

Roberto De Zerbi in animated mood on the touchline.

Albion could rise to seventh if they complete the double over Forest, and after meeting his players yesterday in the wake of the 4-0 defeat to AS Roma on Thursday the message from the head coach is a positive one.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, De Zerbi said: “I’m telling you what I said to my players in the meeting room. We have a big challenge and today is a tough game for us. We finished Thursday - a big game - and after three days we play against a good team, who have had six days to prepare. We have had one hour.

“But from any defeat you can become better and stronger. My history explains that to me. I know the meaning of every defeat and I work harder to become better [as a coach].

"We need to play well. We need to win, first of all. Then, we play in Europa League again with Roma. And then, to play with the same characteristics we’ve showed in my time - to show passion, character, quality of play. I think the fans are proud of their players because Brighton play with honour and pride."

De Zerbi faced Forest in his second home game as head coach in October 2022 and it finished in a 0-0 draw, and he expects Nuno’s team to provide a stern test.

“They are playing well, they have good players in attack - Hudson-Odoi, Elanga, Gibbs-White, and Origi. They played a very good game against Liverpool, and they have a good organisation.

“It will be a tough game for us and a tough game for them. We need to win [and] I hope we can play as Brighton with the right energy because in the last [Premier League] game we didn’t show that.

“The season is not finished yet, we have to play another 11 games and we still have the chance to reach the European position in the table. That is our target.”