Verbruggen: 'I judge myself by the work I put in. I never cheat in the game'

In this in-depth interview, goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen discusses his continual search for improvement, the collective effort to keep clean sheets and Albion's start to the season.

2026-11-15T07:00+00:00

Bart Verbruggen has yet to concede a goal in this season's UEFA Conference League, making this save in the 1-0 win against Getafe. 📷James Boardman

Bart Verbruggen is swiftly becoming one of the most talked about goalkeepers in the Premier League.

Albion possess one of the best defences in the league this season, and Verbruggen’s growing number of clean sheets are a testament of this.

But the Dutch shot-stopper insists that the Seagulls’ impressive defensive record it’s not purely down to him.

“I think the main thing is that we are winning. We are not conceding goals, which is not because of me, it's because of the whole team and that is the truth,” he said.

“That's all that matters. We just focus on trying to get better again and try and keep this run going. The rest doesn't matter.”

At 24, Verbruggen already has plenty of experience between the sticks.

This is his fourth season, having joined from Belgian outfit Anderlecht in July 2023.

His progress under manager Fabian Hurzeler is evident. Verbruggen is close to equalling last season’s tally of ten.

Brilliant from Bart! 😮‍💨🧤 pic.twitter.com/UDnAWodoI4
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) December 21, 2025

Speaking on his progress, he said: “I would like to believe that I have developed again as a player and as a person.

“If that shows on the pitch for a period, that makes me very happy. But I don't only judge myself by the results. I judge myself by the work I put in. I never cheat in the game. I do what I believe is right, and it's always nice to hear good feedback.

“But again, I don't try to think about good or bad form. I'm enjoying the moment. I'm enjoying playing football. I feel physically strong. Mentally, I'm in a good place, and we are winning.”

The addition of Luca Vuskovic from Tottenham Hotspur has proved pivotal in solidifying Albion's back four alongside the ever-present and ever-reliable Lewis Dunk - but Verbruggen places plenty of praise on Hurzeler, too.

He’s [Hurzeler] a brilliant manager,” he said. “He's great at what he does, he's very clear in his ideas and I love to work with him.

“He has a style of play and expects certain things from defenders, midfielders, attackers and goalkeepers. The manager's opinion is the most important one, and he decides how we play. Within that you try to find ways to execute his expectations in the best way possible.

“I think what you can see now is that obviously we've been working together with this manager for the last two and a half years.

“I think all the principles that he's been trying to install are flourishing at the moment. It shows that we are going in the right direction and doing good things. Clean sheets are very nice. They are a big part of winning games, and again that comes down to all the work the manager, the staff and the players do.”

World class from Bart! 🧤 @MonsterEnergy ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/3eAElNqBoE
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) December 8, 2025

But Albion's keeper insists that clean sheets are not fundamental to his success.

“Clean sheets are fragile. One unbelievable goal from the opponent would then mean that you haven't put the right work in, if you looked at it that way.

“I don't see it that way, because sometimes an opponent is just that good that they have an unbelievable shot, or we make a mistake, which is human nature. That doesn't define if you're putting the right work in or not.

“Obviously when we keep clean sheet after clean sheet it's not a coincidence, it's not luck. That means you're doing something right.”

It was only a few short months before signing his contract that Verbruggen earned his maiden call-up to the Dutch national team.

In October 2023 he made his debut for Ronald Koeman’s side in a narrow defeat to France, and has since gone on to make 38 appearances – including all four matches at this year’s World Cup Finals.

Verbruggen says it’s the good and bad experiences in life that have aided his development into one of the most sought-after shot-stoppers in the game.

“I think [as] you grow older, you gain experience both in football and in your personal life, and you start to understand yourself a little bit better: what makes you tick, what triggers you on and off the pitch.

“I think as a person you never stop developing. You grow. You have good and bad experiences that teach you little things. That's something that excites me and makes me happy. The feeling of growth is very important for me, both in my personal life and in my career. As long as I have that, I think I'm going in the right direction.”

When asked how Albion supporters should be feeling at this moment, Hurzeler is often quick to respond that they should be excited.

But there is an underlying approach to matches where the focus remains very much internal. Verbruggen explained: “For us, the main thing is to focus on ourselves.

“The opinions that matter are the ones within the building - from the coaches and the players. We should focus on ourselves and continue to try and get better every day.

“Every game holds the same value to us, and then we will see where it ends. With all the other opinions I don't listen to them. I don't know a lot about them, and I also don't really care to be honest.”

So can Albion compete for the title?

“I've never thought about it,” he added. “Where the club has come from or where the club is going should not be a concern for the player in this moment. The player should be focused on the present and the task ahead.

“What will happen in six or seven months, or what happened five years ago, doesn't matter. At the moment, it's just the task ahead and continuing to win games, because that's what makes us all happy.”

When Jelle ten Rouwelaar was announced as the club’s new goalkeeping coach in July 2025 it reunited Verbruggen with his former mentor, the pair having worked together at NAC Breda and Anderlecht.

And it’s the moments they work on in training that come to fruition in games that satisfy Verbruggen the most.

“When you feel you are working on something and you are growing, developing and improving that creates a sense of confidence, self-belief and energy that will lift people's spirits.

“There was one really clear one against Liverpool, funnily enough. Obviously, we lost the game, which was very disappointing, but I played one pass where I prepared it in the right way and played a chip to the right with my left foot. The movement, how I prepared the pass - that's something we have worked on.”

“Jelle spoke about it two months ago, saying we could add it to my range of passing. We worked on it a lot, trained it with and without opposition and it just happened.

“I did it, and it came out well. That was a nice little moment because it's such a small detail, but it's just us trying to pick my game apart, seeing where I can still develop and improve. Then actually trying to improve it, and seeing it happen in the game is very nice.”

Verbruggen is proud of the way his team have performed in the early stages of this season.

And despite this being the club’s best-ever start to a Premier League campaign, he believes there is still room for improvement: “You get praise now because we win, and that's the most important thing in football,” he said.

“But we should not live there; we have to live in the present and continue to get better. We need to pick our game apart, see where we can still improve, and see how we can make it even harder for opponents.

“That should be our focus. Whether or not we get praise or deserve it is for other people to decide.

“We all work to win; that's the end goal. But what can cause great happiness as well is the feeling of development within the team and within yourself.”