BRIGHTON — Roberto De Zerbi has always been a dreamer. When he was managing at Sassuolo, he used to keep a notepad and pen by his bed. Even when sleeping, he’d dream football and something would click, so he’d wake up and make a note of it.
Those visions naturally change with time and experience. For all the praise levelled in his direction since he took over Brighton in late September, and the teams left in their wake after being exposed by De Zerbi’s tactical acumen, he still dreams, reluctant to put a limit on expectations.
“I like to keep the ball, to enjoy the ball, to try every game to be protagonists on the pitch, working with passion, working with ambition and working towards a dream,” De Zerbi tells ESPN.
De Zerbi’s impact at Brighton has been one of the stories of the 2022-23 Premier League season. Footballing history will note Manchester City’s title win — their fifth in six seasons — and the trio of clubs relegated. But for those who have watched every weekend, memories of De Zerbi’s Brighton will endure. Eight months since replacing Graham Potter, Brighton have secured European football for the first time in the club’s history.
“The dream is to do every day one step more,” De Zerbi says. “It’s one step you didn’t expect to make at the start of the day.”
For a man who moves quickly, De Zerbi got off to a slow start on the south coast. His tenure started with two draws and three defeats, but then they hammered Chelsea 4-1 and his vision for this team seemed to click. There have been some remarkable results, including their recent 3-0 trouncing of Arsenal at the Emirates that spelled the end of the Gunners’ title challenge. At one stage, Brighton were involved in the race for a Champions League place next season, but with one league game left this weekend, they have their spot in the Europa League all but secure. And all this after losing a host of key players last summer.
“The Premier League is a great competition,” De Zerbi says. “It’s a tough, tough competition. Every game is very difficult to make points, to win the game. I’m lucky to be coach of Brighton and it’s a great experience.”
His peers have taken notice. The praise proffered to De Zerbi has been fulsome, though laced with cautionary admiration. In March, Man City’s Pep Guardiola said “We’ve an Italian coach in Premier League, De Zerbi … he’s changing many things in the English football. He’s producing wonderful football.” (Brighton held City to a 1-1 draw Wednesday in a pulsating game either side could have won.) Julen Lopetegui said in late April that Brighton were playing the best football in the world; two days later, Lopetegui’s Wolves lost 6-0 at the AMEX.
Having watched that obliteration, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said “Mr. De Zerbi: wow! That was incredible. They played one of the best games I have ever seen in my life.” Brentford’s Thomas Frank said De Zerbi is doing a “top job,” while Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta said before their 3-0 defeat in May, Brighton are a “joy to watch.”
“One quality is to accept the praise and I’m honoured to receive these congratulations from very important coaches, bigger coaches,” De Zerbi says. “But I don’t change my passion, my attitude.
“Maybe it’s an honour and it’s right to work more after these words.” After that comes clarification and deflection.
“When the people speak about our style of play, they are not speaking about De Zerbi,” he adds. “De Zerbi doesn’t play on the pitch. The people speak because I have very great players, but I was a player and understand very well the good words I receive … but I know the credit is with my players.”
