Roberto De Zerbi’s success at Brighton & Hove Albion has been a subject all over the sports media over the past few year, and even the Brazilian press is now having stories about it.
Today, ESPN Brasil shares an interview with midfielder Guilherme, who currently plays for Changchun Yatai.
Back in January 2018, the player joined Benevento, one of the first clubs De Zerbi managed. And it seems that even in his early days, the coach was already showing signs of greatness.
Guilherme claims that the Italian manager is the best he’s ever had, having a big impact on his career. Something the footballer found key was the Brighton manager’s ability to predict what will happen during games.
“I’m a big fan of De Zerbi. He’s the best coach I’ve had by far, hands down. I’ve had some excellent coaches during my career, like Jorge Jesus, but De Zerbi is by far the best I’ve had, because he really teaches you how to play.
“You think you know a lot, but when it falls into his hands, he gives you certain tools that make you think ‘well, I’m going to do what this guy is asking me to see if it’s really going to work’. Everything he describes and gives you happens during the game. He prepares the games very well. He’s passionate about the game. He’s a very complete coach and manager.
“Another virtue is making the players believe in his process. The player enters the game and it seems as if he’s hearing De Zerbi’s voice speaking to him. On a subconscious level, you just execute. He’s a very different coach and I’m sure that in the next few years he’ll be in a top team.”
Guilherme also told an interesting story about the Brighton boss, back from the time he arrived at Benevento. The player claims that even though he was worried about something else at the time, De Zerbi made sure to make him as comfortable as possible.
“My wife was pregnant and I went to play in Italy for the team he coached. As soon as I arrived, my phone rang and he asked me to come down to reception. He said: ‘I know you’re worried because your wife is pregnant, but I want you to relax. If I asked you to come here, it’s because I trust you. If your son needs milk at three in the morning, I’ll bring it’. So it’s these stories that get the player fired up, isn’t it?”
After Benevento, De Zerbi managed Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk, before taking charge of Brighton in September 2022.
If any Seagulls players need help with baby formula at 3am then they know who to call.
