Head coach Fabian Hurzeler says every player has a role to play in Brighton & Hove Albion’s quest to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the third time in seven years.
Hurzeler tops the table for the number of substitutions in the Premier League this season with 130 in 27 matches, an average of 4.8 per game. He made five changes in the second half of Tuesday’s 2-1 home win against Bournemouth.
Hurzeler, speaking at his pre-match press conference for Sunday’s FA Cup fifth-round tie at Newcastle (1.45pm GMT), told The Athletic: “I know this statistic and these statistics prove what I always say, that everyone in the squad is important, no matter if he is a starter, a non-starter, if he is playing a lot of minutes or not. It’s really important to send this message and that the players understand that everyone has his value in this team.”
Replays have been abandoned in the FA Cup this season, so the Newcastle game could be decided by extra-time or penalties, which could in turn influence how Hurzeler and opposite number Eddie Howe use substitutes.
“Of course, we have to find the balance and understand the dynamic of the game, recognise what the score is, the physical situation of players during the game, the intensity of the game,” Hurzeler said.
“So, there are a lot of things you have to make decisions on, but you cannot plan it beforehand because so many things can happen. You have to adapt in a small amount of time.”
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Brighton made it through to the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 2019 and in 2023, losing out narrowly on both occasions at Wembley to the Manchester clubs.
Chris Hughton’s side lost 1-0 to City six years ago and they were beaten 7-6 on penalties under Roberto De Zerbi against Manchester United four years later following a 0-0 draw after-extra-time. United also defeated them in the 1983 final after a replay.
Hurzeler, asked about trying to deliver major silverware for the first time in the club’s history, said: “I always try to give everything for the club and, of course, I always want the club to be the most successful we can be. That’s my job together with my staff and the players and therefore we try really hard.
“We can promise to everyone, to our supporters, that we try to give everything on the pitch and beside the pitch to make them proud. But we can’t promise to win a trophy. So, that’s the thing we really have to work on and that’s the thing we try to do in our daily behaviour. Then we will see what will come in the future.”
(Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
