'Since day one, I saw how much quality there was here'published at 07:39 BST 11 September
07:39 BST 11 September
Brighton midfielder Chema Andres says the quality already at the club will help bring the best out of him.
He told BBC Radio Sussex: "Playing Europa League last year with Stuttgart is going to help me throughout this year because I have the experience of playing Thursday and Sunday. That is something not usual in football but you need to get used to it - your body, your legs and your head.
"We have a really good team and a really good structure - and I think we need a really good team and a big one to be able to perform in all of the competitions we are going to play in.
"Since day one, I saw how much quality there was here so that pushes me also to work harder and to try to be at their level."
On the comparisons made with Rodri, the 21-year-old added: "I want to be myself, to build my own path. I want to perform. It's of course an honour that they compare me to him. I wish I was at his level at some point but I want to be myself, try to develop and try to make my name big."
Hurzeler on Rutter's fitness, Azeez availability and Ayari's formpublished at 19:19 BST 10 September
19:19 BST 10 September
Media caption,
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Coventry City at the Coventry Building Society Arena (14:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Hurzeler gave a fitness update on Georginio Rutter, who has missed the last two games with a foot problem: "He should be close. He had a small setback but he is on the pitch now and he is hopefully available for the weekend if nothing goes wrong."
And on new signing Femi Azeez, who arrived at the club with a minor hamstring problem and is yet to make his debut: "Also regarding him, I hope he will be an option. He will definitely change the squad. Hopefully everything is fine and hopefully he will be an option for the weekend."
Hurzeler added that he expects Karou Mitoma to return from his long-term problem "more after the international break".
Young forward Zadok Yohanna has a small issue and won't be involved until after the international break.
On his comments after Saturday's draw against Leeds saying his side lacked intensity in the first half: "There are several reasons. We discuss it internally and reflect honestly with the players. It's not about blaming each other, it's about finding solutions. There are several ways we analyse it and hopefully we can change it for the next game."
He was asked about reports midfielder Yasin Ayari is close to signing a new contract: "You always want to solve these issues internally before talking to the public. Yasin is a great player who has had great development for us over the last two years. He has grown as a player, a personality, he takes more risks. I'm very happy to work with these kind of players and hopefully he stays for a long time."
On the challenge posed by Coventry: "A tough opponent. They played really well against Manchester City and created a lot of chances. They look compact and didn't give away many chances. They are having a good process. We have to focus on us to play for 90 minutes with a lot of energy and intensity."
Hurzeler praised Maxime De Cuyper's fine start to the season: "Now he pays more regular, in a different position. He came as a full-back and I think will also be a really good full-back but now he plays more as a winger. Also as a winger he can help us with his creativity, with his left foot, with his good understanding of the game, with his good understanding also in pressing."
On Sky Blues goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, who spent seven years as a Brighton player but was loaned out six times and did not make a senior appearance: "When Carl was here I knew he gave everything for the club. As a player of course you want to play and make the next step but he acted really well when he was here and I wish him all the best with Coventry."
Premier League releases festive football schedulepublished at 16:14 BST 10 September
16:14 BST 10 September
Image source, Getty Images
The Premier League has announced it will stage seven matches on Boxing Day this year after releasing its festive schedule.
Four fixtures will be staged at 15:00 GMT, with further matches played at 12:30, 17:30 and 20:00.
The fixture programme for 26 December, which falls on a Saturday in 2026, is considerably bigger than last year, when one game was held.
Three matches will be played on Sunday, 27 December, while three further rounds of games will be held over a period up to Thursday, 7 January.
A round of evening midweek fixtures will staged on 29-30 December, while Leeds will host Everton (20:00) for the only match on New Year's Day.
The remainder of that round will be held over the weekend of 2-3 January, with the fourth round of games spread across the evenings of 5-7 January.
The Premier League has brought forward the announcement of fixture scheduling over the Christmas and New Year period after consultation with both broadcast partners and the Football Supporters' Association and representatives from club Fan Advisory Boards.
Television scheduling for Premier League fixtures has been announced up to Monday, 2 November, with broadcast selections for the remaining games in November and December to be announced in the weeks commencing 21 September and 19 October respectively.
The Premier League has guaranteed clubs at least a 60-hour break between fixtures over the festive period to address the concerns over a congested festive schedule that follows recent expansions of the European and international calendars.
Gossip: Mixed contract news for Seagullspublished at 07:00 BST 10 September
07:00 BST 10 September
Brighton are confident a new contract for midfielder Yasin Ayari can be agreed soon with positive talks ongoing. (Teamtalk), external
However, Kaoru Mitoma's future at the club is in the balance as the winger is unlikely to extend his deal, which expires next summer, and could make an exit as soon as the January window. (Teamtalk), external
Seagulls must learn from slow startpublished at 07:55 BST 9 September
07:55 BST 9 September
Image source, PA Media
It's been a busy start to the 2026-27 campaign for Brighton and Fabian Hurzeler must now begin to prepare for a packed schedule of domestic and European football.
Although the Seagulls will wait until October for their Conference League league phase to start, Hurzeler's side has endured a flurry of mixed results in their opening five games of the season.
After a bruising 4-3 loss at Stamford Bridge to transfer-foes Chelsea, Brighton were lucky to escape with a 1-1 draw at home to Leeds.
Former Seagulls midfielder Warren Aspinall told BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast Leeds "should have scored more" when they were dominating the early stages of the game.
"We always say when teams are on top, punish the opposition. We got going in the last half an hour, and we were the better team," said Aspinall.
Brighton had a stronghold of 67.1% possession throughout the game, and attempted a total of 522 passes compared to Leeds' 252.
Aspinall added: "I don't think it is possession, it is the energy, then move the ball with a purpose instead of going sideways and back. You're never going to hurt anybody doing that."
A Luka Vuskovic goal salvaged a point for Brighton and the equaliser will be deemed extremely valuable as Hurzeler's side have the most injuries of any Premier League team at this stage of the season.
As it stands, Brighton have 10 players ruled out by injury, with the likes of Georginio Rutter, Jack Hinshelwood and Kaoru Mitoma all unavailable.
Listen to Albion Unlimited below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.
Listen to every Brighton game live on BBC Radio Sussex, with all the build-up and full commentary with Johnny Cantor and Warren Aspinall, and there is a full preview of all Seagulls' matches on Fridays at 18:00 in The Weekend Warm-up
