Every word from Fabian Hurzeler ahead of Burnley at home

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The head coach is hoping for a positive start to 2026.

2026-01-02T11:15+00:00

Fabian Hurzeler's team are 14th in the table going into Saturday's game against West Ham. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Fabian Hurzeler discussed the recent run of form and the speculation regarding Pascal Gross, in his press conference on Friday morning.

Yankuba Minteh went for a scan after the West Ham game. Have you had any updates?

Yankuba Minteh could be available to face Burnley on Saturday. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Yes, the scan is fine. It was just a dead leg. Let's see how training goes today, then we see if he can start or not.

Is there an update on Mats Wieffer as well?

Mats Wieffer had a small issue with with his toe, so he won't be available tomorrow, but I hope it's not a big issue.

Is there any other news from after the West Ham game?

I think nothing has changed. James Milner and Danny Welbeck both looked fine after the game, we will have the same availability again.

We understand that Brighton are in talks to bring back Pascal Gross to the club. How much did you rate him when he was here?

Pascal Gross joined Borussia Dortmund in 2024, after seven years with Albion. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

I definitely like him as a player. I had contact with him because we tried to keep him here, but he wanted to follow his dream. We respected that. Then you continue to follow the players who did great things for the club. We rate him highly.

What have you missed from him, do you think?

I think he's a quality player. He has a big impact on scoring goals and creating chances. But I think it's also important to emphasise that although he was gone, we had good replacements. We had players who stepped up. We had the young players who took their chance. We missed the quality player, but we were able to replace him with young players.

You talked about how the spine of the team is very young at the moment. Bringing someone like [Pascal Gross], is that what these players maybe need at the moment, a bit of that experience? Do you see him helping in that way?

It can be helpful, but I think to say that one player is the solution is not the right thing overall. We know how the dynamics are in this group. We know how important in some moments experience is. We know how important the spine is. But again, last season we found solutions and this season other players stepped up and took responsibility. It's a bit different with young players, you have ups and downs in their performances. That's something that we knew, that's something that we try to keep working on with the young players. But that's our way and we enjoy the way and we enjoy working with young players. We enjoy going with them through the highs and the lows. I think that's not only in football, it's the same in life. It's not only about the highs in life. I think in the lows you learn the most. But of course experienced players in certain moments can help you and can make a difference.

With Pascal, do you expect Brighton fans to hear some good news on that?

Let's see. He's not our player. He's a Dortmund player and I can't say anything more about that.

When you're in a run of form like you're in without the wins, is it tempting to make big changes or how much do you have to trust your process? Do you have to trust that those small margins you talk about and the luck will change for you?

You said everything in your question already. It's about our approach. It's about the small margins and not over-reacting. I think that's the worst thing. What you can do is stay predictable for everyone. In this building you stay positive and stay solution focused. I think that's the key bit. We know how competitive the Premier League is. Last season at this stage we had two more points. It shows how tight everything is. We know that we have to work hard. We know that the luck doesn't just find us. We have to take the small steps, but the most important thing is don't think you have to do special things now. The simple things are the right things. Do the simple things and that will get us out of this run. I think that's most important.

Against West Ham, you weren't happy with the handball decision against your team. Is that something that you've been looking for more clarity on from the PGMOL?

No, it's done. After the game, you’re ask about your opinion. You share your opinion, but you can't change it anymore. Sometimes you disagree with decisions, that's natural in this business but then afterwards it's about focusing on us. Don't try to make others responsible for our results. We are responsible for our results. We could have won the game if we'd scored the goals in the right moment. So we have to take the responsibility. That's why we keep looking to the future, and leave the past in the past.

It was a chaotic first half against West Ham. How much do you want a positive reaction from your team tomorrow?

I didn't think that it was that chaotic because we started really well, then they had a good chance – it was our mistake. They scored their goal and definitely we lost our rhythm a little bit. But then we came back. We could easily have gone in front. We had the chances to score and then you have to chase the result again. It was more like the circumstances didn't went go in our direction and the momentum wasn't there. Then we fought in the second half, we showed already a good reaction. What we want is definitely that we do the small margins better in the game tomorrow. Regarding the performance, you can't say that the boys didn't try and that we didn't play a good game.

Burnley haven't won in ten matches. You're at home tomorrow. Is it a good opportunity to start the year with a good win?

Every game is a good opportunity and, regarding the performances, we are there now. It's about turning the performances into results. We have to go for it.

How are you feeling about Kaoru Mitoma’s return to fitness and do you think he might be able to start tomorrow?

Kaoru Mitoma could be available to start against the Clarets 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

I think he can be an option. I think he played well. He had an impact when he came on the pitch. We know he's a quality player for us, so therefore we are happy that he's back.

How much are the early goals that you are conceding affecting your game plan?

Definitely, they're affecting the game plan but it's also how you react to these setbacks. We didn't react so well against West Ham, I thought we started really good then we had a phase during the game where we suffered. But after 30 minutes we found our rhythm. Of course, we want to start the game well and we want to lead in the first ten minutes. That's always the best theory, but sometimes theory is not happening in the practical part - on the pitch. So that's why we have to get an understanding of how important it is to start the game well, to be alive in every moment, to defend as a team, to attack as a team. We hope we have a better start tomorrow.

I know you spoke about the lack of luck. How do you create that against Scott Parker's side tomorrow?

Hard work. Luck won't fly to you. You have to keep pushing. You have to stay positive. You have to keep believing in your quality. I see quality in my team. I see that they have a good understanding for each other, that there's a good group dynamic. So we just have to keep pushing and don't feel self-pity about the phase we're in. We have to take ownership, we have to take responsibility, and then we will fight back.

Are you a believer in New Year's resolutions?

Ask me this tomorrow after the game! I'm not a big believer in New Year’s resolutions. I'm really focusing on preparing my team, on trying to be the best you can be every day. And then I'm sure that you get what you deserve.

You don't really have time for a reset at this point. There's so many games coming, so is it about trying to continue that into this key period?

You have to stay positive. Although we know we have to improve, the main part is we want to. This building here is still a place where the players and staff love to join in. We still want to emphasise this togetherness, the positivity. We need energy, especially in this phase of the season when you don't have a great run. You need the group sticking together and we have to be role models.

Traditionally the club hasn't done a lot of business in the January transfer window apart from some development players going out on loan. Is there a case of any loans that maybe could be recalled?

Nothing is impossible. Let's see what happens. We have daily exchanges with Tony [Bloom] and Paul [Barber]. We try to get an understanding of what's best for the dynamic of the team, what's best for the group in general, what's best for the individual player, and then we have to make decisions.

Burnley are obviously on a poor run at the moment, but what characteristics have you seen from them this season that may be quite challenging for you?

I think that their results don't reflect in their performances so far, because in every game, including in the last game against Newcastle, they had bad luck in certain moments. They had chances, they hit the crossbar. They put on a lot of pressure, especially in the second half. They have quality players. They know how to score goals. It's important that, first of all in the Premier League, you can never underestimate anyone. Second of all, they’ve had really good performances, but in the end they're not able to get the results. So I think that's warning enough. We have to focus on us. We have to keep pushing and driving higher standards from the first second, we have to bring the best individual performances on the pitch and that's what we try to do tomorrow to beat them.

And how important is it that there's a positive atmosphere around the stadium, particularly being at home and with the talk about the results against the teams lower in the table over recent times. Is it important to be patient?

Definitely. The league is so equal, so competitive, there’s five points to fifth place. I think it's very important that we all stick together and we know that the supporters can create an unbelievable energy at the Amex, and that's exactly what we need from the first moment. We know that we have the responsibility to bring this energy and this intensity on the pitch, to then transport it to the stands. But in the end, I think Brighton is known for the togetherness, for the great supporters, and having a big belief and a big trust. The supporters will push us, and I'm really looking forward to seeing that tomorrow.