Fabian Hurzeler wants Brighton to become more physical as set-piece threat grows

Fabian Hurzeler wants Brighton & Hove Albion to become a more physical Premier League side this season, with the Seagulls already showing how their increased presence can make a difference from set-pieces.

Brighton salvaged a point against Leeds United through Luka Vuskovic, with the towering defender powering home a header from Maxim De Cuyper’s corner.

The goal offered another example of an area Brighton have been developing under Hurzeler and set-piece specialist Yannick Euvrard.

However, for Hurzeler, becoming more physical is about much more than simply adding height to his squad.

Albion have increased their physical presence with players such as Vuskovic and striker Promise David, while midfielder Chema Andres also provides additional height.

Hurzeler insists that size was not the primary consideration behind those additions.

Instead, the Brighton boss believes the increasing physical demands of the Premier League mean his players must become stronger and more competitive in individual battles.

“It’s not like the first priority is that a player has to be tall, but we definitely want to focus on physicality because I always mention that the Premier League gets more physical,” Hurzeler said.

For the Brighton manager, physicality can mean acceleration, strength, aggression and the ability to dominate personal duels rather than simply being taller than an opponent.

That is an area in which he wants Albion to continue improving.

Brighton’s increased physical presence could be particularly useful from dead-ball situations.

Hurzeler and Euvrard worked on developing a stronger set-piece culture last season, and Albion have continued to show variety with their routines.

Olivier Boscagli scored from an inventive free-kick against Strasbourg during pre-season, while Brighton recently forced an own goal against Chelsea from a corner routine in which the delivery remained low.

Against Leeds, they demonstrated a completely different approach.

De Cuyper delivered the ball into an area where Vuskovic could use his aerial strength, and the defender took advantage to rescue a point.

Having different types of threats should make Brighton increasingly difficult to defend against.

Despite the emphasis on physicality and set-pieces, Hurzeler was careful to make clear that neither will become the defining feature of Brighton’s football.

The objective is to add another dimension rather than abandon the principles already established within the team.

“We know how important set-pieces are, and we experienced it last season that set-pieces can win you big things,” Hurzeler explained.

“It’s definitely also a thing where we need to adjust and adapt. But it’s also, and that’s important to emphasise, not the main priority for us.”

That distinction is important.

Brighton are not simply trying to become a bigger team. Hurzeler appears to want a squad capable of matching the Premier League’s physical demands while retaining the technical and tactical qualities central to Albion’s approach.

Brighton will look to turn their greater physical presence into a consistent advantage as the season develops.

The early signs suggest Albion now possess more variety from set-pieces, with Vuskovic providing a major aerial target alongside the different routines being developed under Euvrard.

For Hurzeler, though, the bigger objective is creating a Brighton side capable of competing physically without sacrificing the footballing identity he wants to maintain.