Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler attributed his team’s 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace to a series of individual errors. The hosts secured a remarkable win, their first league double over Brighton in 92 years, despite being reduced to nine men.
Jean-Philippe Mateta gave Palace the lead, but Danny Welbeck equalized before halftime, surpassing Pascal Gross as Brighton’s top Premier League goal-scorer. Daniel Munoz restored Palace’s lead, and the hosts held on despite having two players sent off, Eddie Nketiah and Marc Guehi.
In the added time, Jan Paul van Hecke’s needless dismissal for a second yellow card further frustrated Hurzeler. “These individual mistakes are costing us,” he said. “We can’t afford to make too many errors in the Premier League. We need to analyze and improve.”
Despite the setback, Brighton pushed for an equalizer, with substitute Yasin Ayari hitting the post and Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson making a crucial save.
Hurzeler acknowledged that the emotions of the derby may have affected some of his younger players. “In derbies, it’s essential to stay rational,” he said. “We need to learn to manage our emotions and stay focused to achieve our goals.”
As a young coach, Hurzeler is navigating the challenges of the Premier League with his youthful team. The learning curve can be steep, but he remains committed to helping his players grow and improve.
