Hurzeler has happy memories of back-to-back games against the same team

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Head coach is looking forward to the challenge of playing Manchester City twice in four days.

Bruce Talbot

2026-10-27T10:45+00:00

Fabian Hurzeler is looking forward to the challenge of back-to-back games against Manchester City. 📷James Boardman

Fabian Hurzeler has experienced back-to-back games against the same opponent before and will be hoping for a similar outcome against Manchester City this week.

Back in February 2025 Albion knocked Chelsea out of the FA Cup 2-1 and six days later beat them 3-0 in the Premier League, both at the Amex.

Tonight they go to the Etihad looking to reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals for only the second time in the club’s history before returning on Saturday in the Premier League.

“We experienced it a few years ago when we played twice against Chelsea,” said Hurzeler.

“It's about competing tomorrow then recovering, adjusting, adapting things, and competing again - it's really going from game to game.

“We don't focus on Saturday. We want to be the best-prepared team for Wednesday, and that's the main focus. We don't try to be distracted by the weekend game. We play a do-or-die game, so we are fully focused on this.”

Kostoulas halves the deficit! 🔵

Brighton score on the stroke of half-time. pic.twitter.com/bGjN1w6s6c
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) September 16, 2026

Having won at Old Trafford in the last round the draw could have been kinder than facing the current league leaders, but Hurzeler has yet to lose against City in four games as head coach, although they are now under the management of Enzo Maresca.

“The draws at the moment don't only help us, but if you want to achieve something you have to compete with the best teams. We had a good experience in Manchester before," he added.

"Hopefully, we can have another great night in Manchester on Wednesday, and that's what we are aiming for. Of course, we know that City may be the best team in the league at the moment. It is another tough challenge for us, but we are ready for that, and we are going there to try and get to the next round.”

Brighton have turned it around!!! 🔵

A sensational comeback as Maxim De Cuyper makes it 3-2 at Old Trafford. pic.twitter.com/Bfcr4N7mTL
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) September 16, 2026

Hurzeler expects similar challenges facing a Maresca team as those of his predecessor Pep Guardiola.

“They worked together, so you see similarities, but you also see that Maresca has his own style of football and his own principles.

"You can't change players, so for example if you see the connection between (Jeremy) Doku and (Nico) O'Reilly on the left side that existed also during the time of Guardiola.

Pascal Gross takes advantage of a gifted opportunity to level the score! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Qu2E0B6060
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) September 16, 2026

“They have their clear formation and their clear style of play. They are very successful. They press very intensely with man rotation, so that's definitely a change. Therefore, we have to be prepared for that; we not only face a good team, we also face really good individual players.”