Roberto De Zerbi was unveiled as Brighton & Hove Albion’s new manager in September, signing a four year contract with the Premier League club.
For his managerial career he’s best known for his spell at Sassuolo from 2018 to 2021, where he implemented a style of football which won fans around Italy and beyond.
De Zerbi is very highly rated is his home country so there’s a lot of attention being given to how he does with the Seagulls in English football.
This week he’s been speaking to Italian radio, and was pressed on naming the differences he’s seen at Brighton compared to what he already knew about football in Italy.
Napoli Magazine quote him as saying: “English football is a little different from Italian football, in some things they are better and in others they are worse. Certainly the passion that exists in the stadiums, both in ours and in the others, is greater than what exists today in Italy.
“And the players live the matches with more pleasure to play and less pressure, they play and attack even when the conditions aren’t right… In this there is a bit of a difference between us and them.”
De Zerbi was, of course, also asked his opinion on the Qatar World Cup and the controversies surrounding the tournament.
He was happy to slam FIFA and rightly highlight the stance taken by Iran’s players: “FIFA has not sent the right message for this World Cup, we who live in football must convey the important messages, just as Iran’s players did.”
Brighton are back in action on Wednesday December 21st against Charlton Athletic.
