Lauded as one of the best around by the likes of Pep Guardiola, Roberto De Zerbi has overseen a revolution at Brighton and Hove Albion. After securing a European place, his side is more than looking the part this season. Despite losing two key figures in Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo, Brighton sit top after two games with eight scored and two conceded.
The Italian is currently one of the most intriguing minds across the continent. What makes Roberto De Zerbi so special, and why is he so important to Brighton?
Tactical outlook
The Italian has favoured a 4231 throughout his career, and this is no different at Brighton. Since his arrival on the South Coast, there has been a huge emphasis on not just extreme technical excellence, but the improvement of individuals which has been showcased perfectly with the likes of Solly March and Kaoru Mitoma.
De Zerbi’s system is extremely impressive regarding its ease on the eye, but when it comes to efficiency, Brighton are second to none. His style of play is possession-based, with a huge emphasis being on forcing an opposition side to adapt. De Zerbi’s side is excellent at inviting pressure, with causing overloads in central areas being the key spring point for Brighton’s attacks.
The ideologies present in his Brighton setup, have been evident throughout his career. His Sassuolo team was regarded as one of the most exciting across the continent, and his time at the club put him on the map in terms of his coaching career.
During buildup, his teams look to set up in a 4-2/2-4 structure (situational, based on when fullbacks can exploit space). Midfield overloads are key to De Zerbi's ideas, and with the different profiles at his disposal, Brighton have become one of the easiest on the eye sides in The Premier League. However, what makes them incredibly effective at beating the press?
Beating a press
There is a multitude of factors that combine to make a De Zerbi side so efficient moving forward. De Zerbi has always been a huge advocate of his teams utilising a 'studs on the ball' approach during the first phase.
Such a little nuance has become something archetypal of Brighton in the last 12 months. This approach relates to the idea of aiding the decision-making of players, whilst also actively inviting an opposition press. De Zerbi himself has outlined the importance of the philosophy.
"Controlling the ball with the sole allows you to have it then in front of you. Orienting its control to the right or left, often excludes you the right option. The sole allows you to choose the right option later"
By going through the process of actively inviting a press, Brighton can effectively exploit space, creating somewhat of an artificial transition.
This outlook has been present across both of Brighton's 4-1 league victories thus far this campaign.
Brighton can build up vertically due to the space created against a higher defensive line. In this instance, Lewis Dunk utilises his expert passing ability to perfection.
The active invitation of a press vacates space for Pervis Estupinan, who has become known for his non-stop energy and quality up and down the left flank.
A slightly different example is shown in the away fixture against Wolves. On this occasion, Billy Gilmour was given the responsibilty during build up. At Molineux, Brighton were particularly efficient against the high line deployed by Wolves.
(All screenshots from: www.youtube.com/@skysportspremierleague)
Julio Enciso found himself in acres of space as seen above, where he managed to set up Solly March to score Brighton's fourth.
Throughout the match, Wolves were at sixes and sevens regarding the decision of whether to press or not. This is a conundrum that many teams have faced when coming up against Brighton since the arrival of De Zerbi. As mentioned, teams are forced to adapt to these situations. The technical excellence of the side can slice open a deeper block via individual brilliance; and when pressed, they will punish you.
How Brighton invite pressure, whilst also possessing the ability to break teams down through individual brilliance, allows the side to be effective against any opponent, and they were at their blistering best at the weekend against Wolves. Gary O'Neil's midfield simply did not have the legs, or required energy to cope with Brighton, allowing for Brighton’s key frontmen to end up in the space they so desire, time and time again.
Midfield importance
The engine room of any side is arguably the most important facet when preparing for on-the-pitch success. For De Zerbi, a mixture of intelligence and adaptability is vital. As with Mac Allister and Caicedo's last campaign, a De Zerbi midfielder is required to be comfortable in all situations. The versatility of the two mentioned earned them moves to both Liverpool and Chelsea respectably.
The Italian's set-up requires expert options as pivot points in the Brighton midfield, with this being the most important area of De Zerbi’s side, acting as a hub for all of the teams’ actions.
Before his time at Brighton, one of De Zerbi's biggest managerial successes was the breakout season of Manuel Locatelli at Sassuolo, where the midfielder “hub” role to a level which earned him a place in Italy’s European Championship-winning side where he continued to shine. Since then, Locatelli has become a vital cog for his current club Juventus.
Locatelli in this role summed up the football of De Zerbi. His sides have always looked to build from the back in a 4-2 and sometimes 2-4 structure depending on the scenario. To make this work, there needs to be an emphasis on the ability of the central midfielders to act as the “hub” of the team. The press resistance of Locatelli shone under De Zerbi, both in terms of inviting the original press and beating it. Profiles akin to Locatelli are vital for a Roberto De Zerbi side.
In essence, De Zerbi wants his side to actively invite a press, however, this approach on its own may be ineffective against sides with a low-block approach. This is where De Zerbi becomes flexible. As seen in last campaign's FA Cup victory over Middlesbrough, where there was an emphasis on blocking passes reaching Brighton’s all-important pivot points.
This forced the hand of De Zerbi in terms of his midfielders coming much deeper to progress the ball, which caused the two pressing forwards of Middlesbrough problems regarding whether to track the movement of Caicedo or to continue blocking the passing lanes. The individual ability, as well as intelligence of the midfield options, has been crucial in adaptation to the style of De Zerbi. Further adaptations this campaign will be crucial as new signing Mahmoud Dahoud settles in English football.
However, with the current profiles at De Zerbi's disposal, Brighton are still more than capable in these areas simply due to the nuanced approach that the club have taken with their recruitment, with all players fitting the style and nature of a De Zerbi side, seemingly in a programmed way.
Why does he suit Brighton?
When thinking of a job to land in the Premier League suited perfectly for a coach of De Zerbi's ilk, Brighton immediately springs to mind.
In the early stages of the 2022/23 campaign, Graham Potter's team was beginning to deliver in front of goal after showing so much promise in previous campaigns with not much to show for it statistically. De Zerbi inherited a squad of technically gifted players, who were also tactically tuned. Whilst the task at hand was never going to be easy when the complete elevation of level is considered. However, De Zerbi and Brighton looked a happy marriage from the very early stages.
The recruitment model of the club is one of, if not the most astute in The Premier League. De Zerbi is in a position where despite the inevitability of losing key players, there can be a level of trust in who will be brought through the doors on the south coast.
With a great blend of experience and youthful exuberance, he has been able to get across his ideas since day one, with complete buy-in across the squad. The job that Roberto De Zerbi has done across the board simply cannot be ignored.
With European football at The AMEX this season, a plethora of exciting young talents and a core of fantastic leaders, who knows just how far Brighton and Hove Albion can go?
Roberto De Zerbi and Brighton is a match made in heaven. At this current moment, after two games in the season, the fairytale does not seem to be ending any time soon. With Roberto De Zerbi at the helm, do not be surprised to see The Seagulls continue to rattle the nation's elite. One of English football's feel-good stories is showing no signs of slowing down.