Reaction: Fabian Hurzeler on shoot-out defeat at the Etihad

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Head coach felt Albion missed an opportunity to reach the last eight of the Carabao Cup.

Bruce Talbot

2026-10-28T22:05+00:00

Fabian Hurzeler urges his team on against Manchester City. 📷Paul Hazlewood

Fabian Hurzeler reflected on a missed opportunity after Albion were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Manchester City.

Albion twice led at the Etihad through Malick Yalcouye and Georginio - who both scored their third goals of the season - but twice City equalised to make it 2-2 after 90 minutes.

Jason Steele saved Mateo Kovacic’s penalty in the shoot-out but Gironimo Rulli denied Yasin Ayari and Lewis Dunk as the home side went through 4-3.

“Of course, we are all disappointed. I think the game was there for us. In the end, losing a penalty shootout is always 50-50, but of course it's a brutal feeling,” said Hurzeler.

“But we have to lift ourselves up. We have to show character now because in three days we are back here, and then we want to finish this game with a different feeling.

Georginio gets a shove from Vitor Reis. 📷Paul Hazlewood

The head coach felt the key moments were on City’s side.

“I think the first goal from City happened because they were one man up, and the second goal was a deflected shot, so that's also football. The moments were on their side, not on our side," he added.

“We take positive things away. We wanted to win but in the end you sometimes need a little bit of luck. We didn't have it so that's what we have to accept. We have to analyse it, we have to do certain things better, and then we come back again.

The head coach says he had ‘huge respect’ for those who stood up to take a penalty.

“It's not always easy, so therefore I will never complain if someone misses a penalty," he said. "I have huge respect for anyone who steps up and takes a penalty."