Every word from Fabian Hurzeler's pre-Palace press conference

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2026-02-05T13:00+00:00

Fabian Hurzeler spoke to the media ahead of Sunday's game against Crystal Palace. 📷Paul Hazlewood

Hi Fabian. Can you give us an update on your team news for this game against Crystal Palace?

Diego Gomez will be back. He will be an option. Mats Wieffer is close. Yasin Ayari is unfortunately out for the game. After his fall in the Everton game he suffered a small shoulder issue. It’s nothing big but he won’t be available for this game.

How does that leave you and your approach for this game?

We won't change anything regarding our approach. I said it after the last game, it's about managing the key moments of the game better in certain moments because I think in the last two games it has cost us points. We analysed it and we definitely have to do better. And I take the responsibility for that, it’s something that we need to improve.

But overall, our approach will be the same. We will try to win this game for our supporters. We know the meaning of the game, that it's a big one for the club and for everyone. We see it as a big opportunity to bounce back and to stop this negative run.

We're looking forward to this game and this challenge. And we are ready for it.

You haven't had too many runs like this. How do you cope with it as a head coach, but also as a person?

I think it's very important to stay calm, to stay predictable for everyone and make sure that we don't get too many highs and too many lows.

When things are not going well I think it's very important that I set the tone, I set the messaging during the week and the message is that we are on the right way. But we know we have to manage the key moments better to get the results.

That's something we have to do better, but overall we stay calm and I stay calm. I will take ownership. I'm not hiding, I'm happy facing these kinds of adversities as I think it'll make me grow as a person and as a coach. I will take the ownership and I'm quite convinced that at the end of the season we will be where we want to be.

Have you had to pick the players up much this week because of the last two games and the fact that specifically there were late goals conceded and that can have a really demoralising effect…

We have a really good group of characters who are honest with each other and they are frustrated and disappointed, but I don’t think it takes long that before they are positive and looking forward to the next game because we can't change the past. We have to focus on the next opportunity.

The players hold each other accountable. They see the situations in the right way. They have the right perspective and the main thing is they work hard, they show the right effort in training, they show the right reactions … and we all quite convinced that, in the end, if you keep working hard, if you keep sticking to our principles then you will get the rewards for that.

With the transfer window now closed, how do you assess Brighton’s January window?

I always emphasise that I'm really happy to work with this squad. Of course some players left the club to get more game time. But overall, I see we have a lot of quality and a lot of potential. We have a good mix between old and young players and it's now about us making the best out of it, having a good final part of the season and achieving the things we wanted to.

You said that at the end of the season you will be where you want to be. What does that look like regarding the table?

We all know the club has ambitions and expectations. On the one side it is really important that we go step to step, that we analyse the games regarding our game management. But on the other side, you always need to have a mission, a vision where you want to go. We know that some small things are missing but if we get these right we will get the right results.

James Milner doesn't get too many minutes at the moment, but if he does play on Sunday he will equal the all-time Premier League appearance record of 653 games alongside Gareth Barry. What does that mean to you, him and the club, and will he be involved?

He will definitely be in the squad. For me, James Miller is a role model. He's a great character to work with and I think being a Premier League player at his age and still playing and training at the level he does is incredible. I'm very pleased to work with him. I think (the record) will be a special thing for him. But he's focused on the visions of the club as well. He wants to be successful, like he has been his whole life.

Players like James know what it needs to win. They know how you need to prepare for a game. They know how you react in bad runs like we have at the moment. It’s so important to have these kind of players in the squad who are also great leaders.

What have you made of Crystal Palace during the first part of the season?

I think they're a very stable team, and although they're not on a great run like us I think they're always in their games. They make the games very tight. They always create good chances. They seem to be a very compact team. I think we all know Oliver Glasner and what he's capable of doing with his team, so we are looking forward for this challenge and this opportunity to bounce back.

As a coach, do you get more fired up for these types of games?

Definitely. There's a big meaning in this game, not only for us as a team but also for supporters of the club. We want to try and get this win for the fans. They suffered a lot in the last weeks and it’s our responsibility to promise that we will be fully committed, that we will give everything and then we are convinced that we can get the win.

You mentioned the attacking depth that you have at the squad. Is there now an opportunity for Harry Howell to come back into the squad and potentially get some more Premier League minutes?

Yes, it's an option.

Is he going to be involved in some way on Sunday?

Let's see.

In terms of Babis Kostoulas, there's been lots of support for his performances as well. Do you see a point in the future where he could start a Premier League match?

Yes. That is also an option.

Did the availability of people like Harry Howell and potentially Solly March come into your thinking about allowing Brajan Gruda to go out on loan?

It’s always about figuring out what's best for the club and what's best for the development of the player. We try to make the right decisions and that was the ongoing process with Brajan and we wish him all the best for his loan at Leipzig.

You've got back Matt O'Riley. What impact can he have?

He can offer us experience. He can offer us danger in the opponent's box. He has a very good left foot. He's very good playing in the pockets. He has a good understanding of the game. We are pleased that he's back because he's not only a good player he's also a good character. He fits our values and our principles.

He's a good add-on for our culture, and therefore we are pleased that he's back.

Last season you had a couple of runs where you got good results. Could this be the perfect catalyst against your rivals?

We definitely see this game as an opportunity. We are close now. It's really about managing the key moments better and then we are all convinced that we can get the results and hopefully we start on Sunday.