(Photo credit score: Samantha Madar/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK)
The managers will be the largest stars when Manchester City host Brighton Hove Albion on Saturday.
City’s Pep Guardiola is lengthy thought to be top-of-the-line on this planet. And he is been constantly heaping reward on Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi, seen as one of many globe’s most promising younger managing prospects.
De Zerbi already is in his fourth top-flight function after two earlier posts within the Serie A and one with Ukrainian giants Shaktar Donetsk.
Since his appointment final season following the departure of Graham Potter to hitch Chelsea, De Zerbi has constructed on Potter’s work with the Seagulls (5-1-2, 17 factors). De Zerbi guided them to their first-ever European qualification.
Their final assembly with City (6-2-0, 18 factors), a 1-1 draw on the South Coast final season, led Guardiola to say De Zerbi may very well be his successor with the three-time league champion, in accordance with a report from the Telegraph.
More just lately, Guardiola has remarked that De Zerbi has turned traditionally modest Brighton into an enormous membership.
“Pep is the best coach in the world. He’s a reference not only for me but for all coaches in the world and I’m happy when I hear him speak about me,” De Zerbi stated Friday. “It’s an honor but we are not a big team yet. We have passion and we need to show a lot this season.”
The subsequent step towards turning into an enormous membership could also be promoting fewer of their gamers to conventional powers within the prime of their careers. The Seagulls made one transfer in that path this week, extending Japanese winger Kaoru Mitoma’s contract via the top of the 2026-27 marketing campaign.
Mitoma has three targets and three assists within the league and likewise assisted a aim in Brighton’s rally from two down in a 2-2 Europa League draw at Marseille on Oct. 5.
He’s been part of a proactive tactical method that’s largely the explanation for Guardiola’s admiration.
“I like to watch (De Zerbi’s) team play and it’s not a surprise the success his side has, even when they lose 6-1 to Aston Villa it doesn’t matter, he plays his own style,” Guardiola stated. “It doesn’t matter. It will be one of the toughest tests we have and we will try to go for it.”
City will see midfielder Rodri return from a three-match home ban for a pink card incurred in a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.
City misplaced all three matches, falling to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal within the league and Newcastle United within the league cup.
Reigning PL Golden Boot winner Erling Haaland will attempt to construct on his eight targets this marketing campaign after scoring twice for Norway over the worldwide break.
–Field Level Media