Fabian Hurzeler gives one-word reply to ECHO as Brighton boss upset by Everton decision
Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Fabian Hurzeler claimed there were no shocks from Everton in their 1-0 win at the Amex Stadium. The Blues picked up back-to-back victories for the first time this season thanks to Iliman Ndiaye’s goal from the penalty spot but asked by the ECHO whether Everton had produced anything in their performance to surprise him, the 31-year-old said: “No.”
With that being the case, Hurzeler was then asked why his own team found it so difficult to break down the visitors, who ended the game with just 10 men after Oriel Mangala went off injured after all the substitution slots had been used up, and he said: “Because they defended with 11 players around the box. We will not precise enough or clean enough to find a solution for that.
“I think we tried it, but today, like I said, we weren’t clean enough or on our highest level in counter-pressing to win the ball back as quick as possible and when it’s like this, it’s difficult to win a game.”
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Everton were awarded their first spot-kick this season in the Premier League after VAR official Graham Scott at Stockley Park invited on-field referee Tim Robinson to check his pitchside monitor when home defender Joel Veltman handled the ball.
Hurzeler was left upset by the decision though and when asked whether he felt it was right to point to the spot, the English top-flight’s youngest gaffer replied: “No penalty. So, the VAR can’t get into this situation if the referee decides like this then you should play on and the VAR is not necessary for this.
“It’s not a clear handball. Did you see it as a clear handball?
“He felt a touch and when you feel a touch, of course the normal reaction is that the hands are coming and then the hand went on the ball. It can’t be a penalty.
“I think we still had enough time afterwards to turn the game around. We have to be honest to ourselves, we weren’t on our highest level today and that’s why we lost the game, so we have to reflect and re-analyse what is going on.”
