Roberto De Zerbi insists there will be no let-up from his players even though many of them will be with their national teams preparing for the World Cup this time next week.
Before then Albion have two big games to play, first away to Arsenal in the third round of the Carabao Cup tonight before entertaining Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.
Jason Steele will play in goal at the Emirates tonight, and De Zerbi says the side to face the Gunners will be strong.
“It will be a test for many players but when we wear the Brighton shirt, we must play seriously and we must try to win,” he said. “For me, Arsenal is a very important game, I can make some changes in the first XI, but we prepare for the cup as if it is a Premier League game.
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“For all coaches, it’s important to win always, to play seriously. If we want to prepare the best way for the Aston Villa game we have to play well and be 100% against Arsenal. The best way to arrive in the best condition on Sunday is to play a good game.”
Asked if the World Cup had come at a bad time, De Zerbi added, “Ask me on Sunday evening because we have another two games that are very important. I would like to finish this first part of my work here in Brighton in the best way, I don’t know what the results will be, but I can decide the mentality that we arrive at the games with.”
Albion have only lost one of their last four visits to the Emirates but De Zerbi knows the current league leaders are a top side playing under a coach he admires.
"When we wear this shirt, we must try to win." 👊 RDZ on an "important" fixture. ⤵️
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) November 8, 2022
“Arsenal is a very good team and Mikel [Arteta] is a very good coach,” he added. “I like his style of play for sure. With [Gabriel] Jesus and [Oleksandr] Zinchenko [coming from Manchester City] they find the best mentality because those players know how to win, they have won the Premier League. They help their teammates to find the right mentality.”
As always with De Zerbi, the focus is on his team’s performance and getting the best out of his squad.
I am happy to work here and with these players,” he added. “Step by step I want to put something of my idea in the team, game by game I think it’s nearer to my idea. Without good players the coaches can do nothing, they can help the player to play in a good way, in a good style and you can work in terms of [their] mentality and order on the pitch. But only the player can change something in football.”
If the scores are level are 90 minutes the tie will go straight to penalties. The fourth round draw takes place on Thursday evening.