Fabian Hürzeler says Brighton are “getting closer” to playing his ideal football

Fabian Hürzeler insists Brighton are edging ever closer to becoming the team he envisions, with the head coach outlining the club’s emerging football identity ahead of their Premier League clash with Aston Villa. The Seagulls have taken ten points from their last four matches and could leapfrog Villa with a win — a sign, Hürzeler believes, that his ideas are beginning to take root.

Brighton legend Glenn Murray recently told Sky Sports that Hürzeler’s tactical imprint has taken longer to become visible compared to the early months of Roberto De Zerbi’s tenure. Hürzeler, who guided Brighton to an impressive eighth-place finish in his debut season, responded calmly to that assessment.

“Everyone can comment on that, and for me that is absolutely fine,” he said. “I think we are getting closer and closer to where we want to be.”

Hürzeler expanded on what he considers the essence of Brighton’s evolving identity, stressing that his work with the squad extends far beyond the tactical board.

“We are trying to build connections on the pitch and off it,” he said. “We want to help the players understand what we demand from them, what our principles are, and how we want to play football.”

He acknowledged that some ideas naturally take longer to settle than others, but emphasised that consistency of work — and belief — remains at the heart of his approach.

“Sometimes it takes more time, sometimes it develops quicker,” he continued. “Overall, we want to stand for something as a club. We want to stand for something on the pitch and off the pitch.”

That identity, he said, must be “Brighton football” — a term he deliberately repeats to reinforce the club’s long-term vision.

Not all supporters have immediately connected with Hürzeler’s philosophy. Recent defeats to Arsenal and Manchester United amplified nostalgia for De Zerbi’s possession-heavy, high-risk brand of football. Even after a strong victory over Brentford pushed Brighton into the top six, praise remained somewhat muted.

Glenn Murray echoed this feeling on Sky Sports:
“Under Roberto De Zerbi you could clearly see the tactics and what they did. Fabian has got very different ideas, and it has taken a little while for the place to get on board with that.”

However, Murray added that Brighton’s aggression in winning the ball high up the pitch is now much more visible — a clear marker of Hürzeler’s influence.

From our analysis of Brighton this season, that high pressing is indeed becoming a defining trait. The Seagulls are more direct, quicker in transition, and more structured defensively than under De Zerbi. The evolution is less flamboyant but more controlled, designed to balance possession with security.

It’s inevitable that any successor to De Zerbi will face comparisons — especially one implementing a contrasting style. But it’s worth questioning whether Hürzeler has already reached benchmarks that De Zerbi needed longer to hit. Brighton are in a strong league position, improving defensively and producing more balanced performances.

From our experience analysing coaching transitions, identities built on structure rather than constant improvisation tend to take longer to display — but offer greater long-term stability. Hürzeler’s work reflects that: less drastic in flavour, more durable in construction.

The identity may not be fully formed yet, but its outline is increasingly clear.

Brighton host Aston Villa with the chance to move into the Premier League’s upper tier. For Hürzeler, the match represents another opportunity to reinforce the identity he is working so hard to establish.

👉 Has Brighton’s new identity under Hürzeler become clear enough for fans — or is the transition still too early to judge?