ROSENIOR PRAISE FOR DE ZERBI
HULL City head coach Liam Rosenior has praised Brighton and Hove Albion’s highly-rated boss Roberto De Zerbi after watching the Italian mastermind a place in Europe.
The Albion boss, who took over when Graham Potter left the Amex Stadium for Chelsea in September has guided the South Coast club into next season’s Europa League, with them assured of sixth place in the top flight.
That achievement was secured with a 1-1 draw against Premier League champions Manchester City on Wednesday night, a game City chief Rosenior watched from close quarters, working for Sky Sports.
“Watching the game as a young coach, young manager whatever you want to call me the bravery of both coaches,” he told Sky Sports.
“The pressing that they gave to the game, the energy levels in terms of that but the organisation behind it, the fact that they were willing to go man-to-man with the best striker on the planet and leave him one-for-one at the back to stop Man City, that’s their bravery.
“I watched them do it away to Arsenal and I watched them do it at Man City, and to set up in a way where you are willing to go one-for-one at the back with the best striker in the world says everything about the way that Roberto De Zerbi is coaching this team - I think he’s an absolute genius.
“I know Pep said it yesterday, I’m gonna say it now - there are certain coaches that come along like (Arrigo) Sacchi with Milan or Pep, coming along and changing the game, and what Roberto De Zerbi is doing with this Brighton team is something new, it’s something different.
“Provoking the press, the way that they score, the way that they build from the goalkeeper, but the way they pressed today in the game was so brave. It’s fitting that they’re getting into Europe this way.”
WIGAN Warriors coach Matt Peet believes his team were fortunate to come away with the victory in a contest that could have gone either way.
In a game that exceeded 80 minutes, a piece of individual brilliance from Bevan French in Golden Point was the separator as Wigan edged the Robins out 26-22, leapfrogging them on 18 points.
However, the potential outcome changed so many times, and on another day, it could have been Willie Peters who was the victorious coach.
Just like the players who gave everything on the field, Peet was out on his feet when he entered the media room for his post-match press conference.
Still coming to terms with the dramatic ending in HU9, he praised Rovers for dominating large chunks of the game.
“We can’t shy away from the fact that the game could’ve gone either way,” said Peet.
“They’re (KR) a fantastic team, and for large parts of the game, they had us. They took the lead when Ryan Hall got the sin bin.
“At the start of the second half, in particular, I felt that they were the better team. A lot of what we did poorly was credit to them. They do so many good things here, in attack and defence.”
He added: “They’re building something really special here, and that’s a credit to Willie (Peters) and the players. It’s nice to come away with the two points; it could be important for us. We don’t get carried away with the league table, but we understand how close we are to KR, so to win in that manner is a good reward for us.”