Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler was left puzzled by the chorus of boos that followed his team’s 3-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa.
On loan from Manchester United, Marcus Rashford kickstarted Villa’s dominant performance with a goal in the 51st minute at the Amex Stadium. Villa substitutes Marco Asensio and Donyell Malen then ensured victory for the visitors as they climbed above Brighton into seventh place with their sixth consecutive win in all competitions.
Despite hitting the post with Yasin Ayari’s free-kick and having a Simon Adingra goal disallowed due to a handball by Kaoru Mitoma following VAR intervention, Brighton struggled to find the breakthrough they needed.
The loss came on the heels of a disappointing defeat in the FA Cup quarter-final to Nottingham Forest.
Enraged Seagulls fans booed at the final whistle, a reaction that left Hurzeler questioning its target. He said, “We gave our all on the pitch, which is always our goal. We must perform better next time to avoid such a response.”
Hurzeler acknowledged that Villa’s opening goal altered the course of the game significantly. Referring to the VAR disruptions, he stated, “The decisions were correct, but the extended stoppages disrupted the flow of the match. Staying calm in those moments is crucial, but emotions run high for everyone involved.”
Looking ahead to Brighton’s upcoming match against Crystal Palace, Hurzeler expressed confidence in his team’s ability to bounce back. “It’s the perfect opportunity to respond,” he said.
