The Italian went one-to-one against two members of Chelsea’s backline (Picture: Getty)
Roberto Di Zerbi has praised his Brighton side’s performance in Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Chelsea and revealed that he specifically targeted two players.
The Seagulls played host to old boss Graham Potter in something of a grudge match, with the new Chelsea manager booed and jeered by his one-time supporters – who even chanted that he was ‘getting sacked in the morning’ as the goals flew in.
Leandro Trossard put the hosts ahead after just five minutes before two own goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Trevoh Chalobah meant Brighton went into half-time with a three-goal lead.
Kai Havertz netted shortly after the restart, but Brighton gave a solid rearguard display before Pascal Gross added more gloss to the scoreline in stoppage time.
Throughout the match, Brighton got an enormous amount of joy down the flanks with Pervis Estupinan and Kaoru Mitoma – who was involved in two of the goals – raiding down the left and Solly March causing problems down the right.
With Potter once again selecting Christian Pulisic and Raheem Sterling at wing-back, De Zerbi clearly felt Chelsea’s outside centre-backs – Chalobah and Marc Cucurella – could be exposed and went one-to-one against them.
Asked if he had specifically targeted Chelsea’s outside centre-backs, De Zerbi told Brighton’s website: ‘We prepared the game one-to-one with Mitoma with Chalobah and one-to-one Solly March against Cucurella.
‘But Trossard was fantastic, Adam Lallana the same. All the players were fantastic.’
De Zerbi pushed Mitoma high up one-v-one against Chalobah (Picture: Getty)
Speaking about the victory more generally, he continued: ‘I am very happy for the players, the club and the people who work with the team.
‘And, of course, the great fans because they were the best players on the pitch – they helped us so much.
‘The first 20-25 minutes we were fantastic, in how we played with and without the ball. We played with an intensity I liked.
‘I won’t be celebrating too much, because next Saturday is another game and I made a mistake because they made a tactical change and I didn’t adapt.
‘But 4-1 against Chelsea is still an amazing result and I hope everyone enjoys it.’
Asked about the booing of Potter by Brighton’s fans, he told BBC Sport: ‘No I don’t want to speak for this. I am sorry for these things. I don’t know the situation of the past and I don’t want to know.’
MORE : Graham Potter hits back at Brighton fans who booed after Chelsea defeat
MORE : Martin Keown criticises Graham Potter for ‘trying to be too clever’ after Brighton thrash Chelsea
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The Italian went one-to-one against two members of Chelsea’s backline.