Talking points from Fabian Hurzeler ahead of the Forest game

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On his 33rd birthday, the head coach spoke to the media ahead of Sunday's match at the Amex.

2026-02-26T12:55+00:00

Fabian Hurzeler stressed the importance of togetherness ahead of Sunday's game.

On his 33rd birthday on Thursday Fabian Hurzeler spoke to the media ahead of Sunday’s Premier League game against Nottingham Forest at the Amex.

Team news …

Starting with Yasin Ayari, he is finally rejoining us. He suffered a shoulder dislocation - it was a painful injury, but thankfully nothing overly serious. Yasin is a quick healer. He has been doing non-contact work, but today he gets back into full-contact training with his teammates. If he handles the physical challenges well he will absolutely be an option for the weekend.

Beyond Yasin, we have a clean bill of health regarding new absences. James Milner came off near the end at Brentford but he has looked incredibly sharp over the last two days on the training pitch.

I know there has been anticipation regarding Solly March’s return, and with Solly the key word is patience. We cannot force his reintegration. He needs game time to rediscover his highest level, but the timing of his game time is important. I wanted him with us at Brentford because of his experience. He is having great training sessions, and he is getting closer by the day.

Because of this availability, we are seeing intense competition just to make the squad, let alone the starting XI. This is exactly the kind of headache I want during the closing part of the season.

You can’t beat winning …

When you are not getting the results your performances arguably deserve, it tests you. But you simply cannot replace the feeling of a win with anything else in this world. Wins manufacture an energy and a positive atmosphere you can’t replace.

Internally, we never lost our belief in our quality or our system, but winning is the ultimate confirmation for the players. It validates their commitment. Coming after a victory, my job becomes slightly easier.

Personally, I will never be the kind of manager who puts myself in the spotlight. When we lose, I will stand at the front and take the responsibility. But when we win, that stage belongs entirely to the players.

Togetherness …

It is all about a word I have used repeatedly: togetherness. Some people might be tired of hearing it, but I felt its value at the weekend. If we want to consistently challenge the elite teams in the Premier League, we must operate as an unbreakable unit - the players, the staff, the club, and the supporters.

Creating that togetherness naturally involves our relationship with the fans. I am aware that against Crystal Palace there was some frustration from the crowd. As a manager, I accept that criticism is a part of the job. My message to the supporters is to keep backing the players the way they have so brilliantly all season. These players give absolutely everything. They are fully committed to this badge, showing maximum effort every day at the training ground and in every match.

If there is anxiety in the stadium - say, if things aren't going to plan 20 minutes into the match - it is not the fans' job to fix it; it is ours. We have experienced players on the pitch who know how to handle high-pressure environments. But it is our responsibility to create an energy on the pitch that translates to the stands. We have to give the fans no other choice but to get behind us. I am confident that Sunday will present a fantastic atmosphere and a massive opportunity for us.

James Milner closing in on 900 club games …

It is genuinely difficult to find new words to describe James Milner. He is the ultimate player who puts the team first, but this week was rightfully about him and honuoring his journey and his legacy.

James is a manager's dream. He is the player every fan respects and every professional wants as a teammate. Yesterday, we had some wonderful speeches from my assistant coach, Crofty, and our physio, Sean Duggan, highlighting not just the matches but the work in the shadows.

Can he reach 1,000 games? If you look at him training yesterday — vocal, intense, pushing his physical limits - you realise that with him, nothing is impossible. He proves that while physical talent is important, it is your mindset that dictates your ceiling. His mindset is relentless; he is never satisfied, always seeking the next level.

… and passing on his experience

Tactically, the six role he plays for us is incredibly complex. It requires playing through the press and providing cover for the fullbacks. It is a role built on communication as the connector who sits between the centre-backs, the fullbacks, and the attackers. You must constantly process the game visually and direct the players around you.

James is a natural communicator who has experienced thousands of these exact scenarios. Our younger players like Yasin Ayari, Carlos Baleba, and Jack Hinshelwood are still learning this. They will grow into it, but having James here to show them the way is invaluable.

Photo 1/27

Fabian and the team look to build on the win at Brentford, as preparations turn to Nottingham Forest who are next up at the Amex on Sunday afternoon. Club photographer Paul Hazlewood was at the training ground to capture some images from the session on Tuesday morning.

Playing through the pain …

We must also mention Lewis Dunk. He proves that a long, successful career is not merely about natural talent. It is about sacrifice. It is about your willingness to suffer. Lewis is playing through genuine pain. He has an ongoing knee issue, and we all know he is suffering. Yet he is performing at an elite standard and is currently playing at his absolute highest level of the season, and he seems to be improving week by week.

Sunday’s opponents …

We have watched their recent matches, including their game against Liverpool. They are a formidable outfit with a very specific, dangerous tactical profile:

They have highly effective, one-v-one specialists out wide and Morgan Gibbs-White is an outstanding talent who finds pockets of space behind the midfield to attack the box. In Murillo, they have a physically imposing centre-back with a brilliant left foot for building out from the back, and good attacking full-backs. As always, the key is adapting to the opponent without ever losing our core identity and principles in possession.

Squad depth …

Matt O’Riley has only played a handful of minutes but it is not because of anything he is doing wrong. He is a role model in training. Sometimes, as a manager, you have to make hard choices without having a negative reason to give the player. All he can do is keep pushing, and his chance will come.

The same applies to Georgi. He is going through a testing period as other players have momentarily stepped ahead of him but he has massive potential. It is our job to support him through this, and I am highly confident he will play a part in the final period of the season.

Evan Ferguson injury update …

He suffered an ankle injury for Roma and has returned to us for assessment. He is getting a second opinion before we decide on the best course of action. My conversations with Evan have been incredibly positive. He has learned a lot in Italy - adapting to a new culture, a new style of play, and learning how to fight through adversity. I have a good feeling we will see a different Evan Ferguson when he comes back in the summer.