Best foot forward: Olivier Boscagli on Albion's start to the season

The defender discusses the challenge of adapting to the Premier League, how he is helping our new signings settle in, European football and his shared passion for horses – and Lego – with fellow Frenchman Georginio Rutter.

Bruce Talbot

2026-09-28T09:15+01:00

Olivier Boscagli enjoys the post-match celebrations after Albion's 3-0 win against Arsenal.

Oli, how do you assess the first few weeks of the Premier League season?

I am really happy with it, but on the other hand it is a bit frustrating because we know we can do better. Against Chelsea and Leeds we only played to our potential for one half. Against Chelsea, that was not enough to win the game, although against Leeds, it could have been. I just hope those are not the kind of points we are going to miss at the end of the season.

Of course, it is nice to see the strong character of the team. It is difficult to stand up when you concede a goal early in the game, especially when you have a specific game plan to counter the different opposition. It is good to see that we had this reaction and that we can score at any moment because we know we are a strong attacking team.

However, clean sheets are also really important. The way we conceded goals against Chelsea and Leeds was way too easy. We were not really alive in those moments, and it cost us points. It makes you frustrated, but there are still a lot of positives to take. It is just the beginning of the season, so there is plenty to learn. We have a lot of players missing, so it is about recognising we have to step up and stop making these mistakes. Sometimes it is good that these things happen early in the season so you have time to correct them. It is nice to see how the boys reacted, but we know we still have a lot to improve.

You spoke there about the importance of clean sheets. We obviously got that on the opening day against Aston Villa…

Yes, but we also know that we have to adapt right now. Some players are not playing in their natural positions, some are playing less, and others are still injured and struggling to come back. We cannot hide behind this. We know that when they return, they will bring us more power and energy, but we have to make sure that the players currently on the pitch do the job.

We saw recently that we can do the job, whether in the Conference League or against Aston Villa. We have the quality. The challenge now is to replicate it every game and maintain the same level every weekend, which is where we are struggling a bit at the moment.

We have to find our fundamentals again, focus on what we are good at, and erase the mistakes.

These early-season games gave us a lot of confidence, especially the Tromso qualification and the match against Aston Villa. It is funny because some people focus entirely on the red card for Villa in that game, but our strong performance was established before the red card. We know we have the quality; we just need to deliver it for 95 minutes. Every competition is going to be hard and long. We are looking forward to getting all our players back because it will make a big difference, but for now, we have to step up regardless of who is on the pitch.

Speaking of adapting, a lot of players have had to make that step up recently. Malick Yalcouye is probably a good example of that. How impressed have you been with the way these players have adapted to being starters?

Malick Yalcouye's start to the season, including his goal against Coventry City, have not surprised teammate Olivier Boscagli. 📷James Boardman

To be honest, I am not surprised because I see him every day and I know the quality he brings to us. It can be a surprise for people who only see the games on the weekend, especially since he was on loan for the last two years. You never know what to expect from these players when they return to their parent club, but I am really happy for him. Going on loan year after year makes it difficult to find your place. The way he has reacted and how he is playing today is amazing.

He is still a really young player with a long future in front of him. We try to help him because he is a bit shy off the pitch, but when he crosses the white line, he shows a completely different character. It is great to know we have players like him who can change the game. It doesn't matter where he plays; you know he is going to give his absolute best, and for the team, there is nothing better than that. The manager expected this level from him, which is why he had no problem putting him in the starting line-up. It shows the quality he possesses and points to a great future.

Let's go back to the start of your time with the club. You scored on your Brighton debut in the Carabao Cup against Oxford United a year ago. Did you feel like you settled in here quite quickly?

'Quickly' is not the word I would use. I struggled a bit last year with my game time. Coming to the Premier League is a dream for every player, but it is just the beginning of a long journey. Adapting to the Premier League is totally different from other leagues; that is why it is the best league in the world.

It took time to learn about the intensity of the Premier League, what our manager wants and what the team needs. I knew I had to keep my head up and learn from the situation. There are hard moments in every career. Even the best players in the world struggle at some point, so I knew I could handle it. I tried to start this pre-season really strongly to present myself in the best way possible. It is working at the moment because I have been on the pitch for almost every minute. It rewards your hard work and proves that just because you struggled the year before, it doesn't mean you can't make it.

So how pleased are you to be a starting player this season, making an impact from the very beginning?

As a football player, there is nothing better than being on the pitch. Our number one goal is to play as many minutes as possible. When you get that reward from the manager, the players and the staff, it gives you so much confidence. When they show their gratitude and make it clear that you are important to the team, it is the best feeling.

They trusted me from day one. Even when I was struggling, they continued to support me. When you finally succeed, it is a reward for them too, because they worked with you through the tough times. They see you struggle, but they also see you happy when you find success. It feels like a family that is trying to help you. Ultimately, I just want to be on the pitch and help the team with my qualities. That is what I am doing at the moment, and it makes me very happy.

Tell us about your relationship with Fabian Hurzeler. How do you feel that you've developed as a player under his management?

Olivier Boscagli has a good relationship with Fabian Hurzeler. "He wants to make me a better player."

One thing I will always remember is my first video call with him. I expected him to explain what Brighton is like and what he liked about my game. It was totally the opposite. In that first meeting, he showed me all the bad things I do. He told me, "If I text you, it is to improve this. I know what you do well, but I want to develop the other side of your game."

At first, it felt a bit strange that a manager would focus on your flaws right away, but I took it in a really positive way. It showed that he wanted to work with me and make me a better player. We feel that he loves what he is doing, and he wants to improve us every single day. In the good moments, it is easy to congratulate everybody. But on the days when it is harder, when you are struggling with game time, he is there to help.

He says that you've got one of the best left feet in the league. What do you make of that praise?

The manager shows me every day that while I can do a lot of high-quality things with the ball on my left foot, if I don't execute the rest of his game plan, I won't play. So while the compliment is really nice to hear, I know that when he says it, there is a hidden message. He is essentially saying, "This is your quality, but here is where you still need to learn."

Let's talk about another relationship at the club. You've got a very close friendship with Georginio Rutter. When did that first begin?

We didn't know each other personally before he arrived. We knew of each other's names because we are both French and were in the French national youth set-ups, although there is a five- or six-year age gap between us. But it clicked from day one. We were the only two French guys here initially, so we spoke a lot about life in Brighton.

Sometimes we just go out for dinner. He also likes to show me his hobbies, like his horses. It is not something I am used to, but he tries to share what he loves, and I try to get into it to understand his passion. Often, we just call each other to see what the other is doing, and we will meet up without any real plans, just to walk and talk.

Olivier Boscagli celebrates with the away fans after Albion's Carabao Cup win at Old Trafford.

And which of your hobbies have you tried to show him? I know you're quite into your Lego.

It is funny because he is really into Pokémon and horses, and I am into Lego. One time, he went to a shop to buy some Pokémon cards, found a Lego Pokémon set, and bought it for me! He has started doing some Lego himself now, though not as much as me.

It is vital to have something to clear your head and stop you from constantly thinking about the game. For me, Lego does that. When everybody is asleep at home, I build my Lego, empty my head and think about nothing. He achieves that through his horses. Because I have my own hobbies that keep my mind busy, I completely get why he is so passionate about his.

We are playing in the Conference League this season. You have experience in the Champions League and Europa League from your time at PSV. Was that ambition a big part of the conversation before joining?

Yes, the manager explained the club's goals to me from day one. He made it clear that he wanted to bring the club back into Europe and that he needed players to help achieve that. We know how important European football is for the club. For the players, it is amazing, but for the fans to be back in European competition, it is huge. As a player, you want to compete at the highest level possible, which means playing European football while competing in the best league in the world. It is great that we can showcase ourselves on the European stage, and the best way to do that was to qualify, which we did.