Hurzeler: We're not 'goalscoring kings', but we did show belief

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The head coach reflects on a fantastic evening in the north west.

Charlie Hanson

2026-09-16T22:50+01:00

Fabian Hurzeler's team showed 'belief' to turn around the scoreline at 2-0 down. 📸 by James Boardman.

Fabian Hurzeler said his team never lost belief in their stunning come from behind win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.

The Red Devils raced into a two-goal lead after ten minutes, but the rest of the 80 minutes belonged to Brighton. Goals from Babis Kostoulas, Pascal Gross and Maxim De Cuyper - as well as some outstanding Jason Steele moments - ensured United were beaten for the first time in 50 years after taking a two-goal lead at home.

"We conceded two easy goals, but we stuck to our plan and that was a positive thing," Hurzeler reflected. "When you're 2-0 down you can go in one direction and say, 'ok, the game is done,' and you don't stick to the plan anymore. Or you have to believe. You have to believe in your teammates. You have to believe in yourself. You have to believe in the match plan and you continue doing it. We won in a deserved way.

Kostoulas halves the deficit! 🔵

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

"I didn't think that we started that bad. Of course, we conceded goals and goals change momentum. But overall we had the right structure. We had good patterns.

"The bad thing in the beginning was we were quite nervous, we made a lot of technical mistakes but then afterwards the players grew into the game and the momentum really changed for us.

"Overall, I think the structure and how we played football from the beginning was right. But we made too many easy mistakes and that meant we couldn't really get into our rhythm. The longer the game went on the better we were in our execution and the better we stepped into the game.

"In the end we completely controlled the game and we had plenty of chances to score another goal. But I had the feeling at the beginning we were quite nervous. Not everyone, but some players. So that's definitely something we'll have to analyse, we have to do better. We were in the right structure, we had the right patterns, but the execution wasn't right."

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

After 13 goals in their four opening Premier League matches should probably have taken the surprise out of scoring three at Old Trafford. Hurzeler was no doubt happy to see his team's form in front of goal continue, but didn't want to hype up his players too much.

In response to being asked if his team were 'goalscoring kings', he said, "I wouldn't say we're goalscoring kings, but what we have is the belief - I always speak a lot about belief. When you come to places like here and you're 2-0 down you need one thing and that's belief. Belief in your teammates, belief in your own quality, belief in how we want to play football.

"Besides that, you also need character and the players showed real character. They stuck together. Of course, they were frustrated at being behind so quick, but they faced adversity they went again and they came back in a very impressive way."

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