Roberto De Zebri is a big fan of the work his predecessor did to guide Albion to fourth place in the Premier League – but our new head coach is confident he can improve on Graham Potter’s good work.
The 43-year-old Italian was introduced to the media on Tuesday and spoke about his pride at working in the Premier League for the first time following impressive spells in Italy and with Shakhtar Donetsk.
He said, “This is a big challenge, working in the most important league in the world. I’m proud to be here in a club not in the Premier League for a long time but with a clear idea of what to do. I am humble but I will bring my personality and my experience. We have a lot of talented players and I know together that we can work very well.
Roberto is in the building! 🙌 #BHAFC pic.twitter.com/iZoDVpv1j0
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) September 20, 2022
“I have seen a lot of our recent games and studied the players singularly. The team knows what they have to do and has a very clear style. Perfection doesn’t exist, there is always something to improve. I will bring something without making big changes but it’s always possible to get better and this is my goal.
“I know the work Graham Potter has done before me. There are a lot of players here with the same ideas about football as me and they have the right skills and mental characteristics to play brave football, as I want. I am taking a team fourth in the table and this gives me even more motivation.”
Roberto will be assisted by Andrea Maldera, 51, who worked with him in Ukraine and chief executive Paul Barber confirmed that the club are applying for work permits for other members of his backroom staff. Barber said, “[Under-21s head coach] Andrew Crofts will work between the under-21s and the first team to give further support which they need to bed into the club quickly. The break in fixtures gives everyone that bit of time to get used to this new environment.”