Head coach Fabian Hurzeler says he thrives on the pressure as Brighton approaches the final stretch of the season.
The Seagulls are currently in seventh place in the Premier League, just one point behind the Champions League spots, and have reached the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Chairman Tony Bloom, speaking in an interview with ITV at the Cheltenham Gold Cup, mentioned that Brighton is on the verge of making history as they aim for a top-five finish and an FA Cup triumph. He also noted that their upcoming home Cup match against Nottingham Forest is a “reasonably kind” draw and emphasized their push for the top five.
With Brighton having won their last six matches, they now face fifth-place Manchester City tomorrow, with a win boosting their European ambitions.
“Honestly, I love pressure,” Hurzeler said ahead of their trip to the Etihad on Saturday. “I always find a way to deal with it. That’s the pressure I put on myself, so I don’t feel the outside pressure or from the owner. In the end, I apply the most pressure on myself. I’m my own toughest critic, and I want the best for the club, which means being as successful as possible.
“We approach this by focusing on our daily behavior, pushing our limits every day, and striving to get the best out of the group and each individual in every possible way. That’s what we’ll continue doing for the rest of the season and we’ll see where we end up.”
While Bloom faced disappointment earlier this week at Cheltenham, as his horse Energumene lost to Marine Nationale in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, he bounced back with a surprising 100-1 win as Poniros triumphed in the Triumph Hurdle on Gold Cup day.
Hurzeler commented: “As for the horses, I wish Tony all the best. The start wasn’t great, and the horses didn’t perform well in the race, but it’s similar to our season. We’re not always perfect, but we strive to get the best out of ourselves. We analyze, reflect, and then we focus on the next challenge. The same approach applies to Tony and his horses.”
Fabian Hurzeler reacts to Tony Bloom ‘pressure’ at Cheltenham Festival ahead of Man City
