Fabian Hürzeler
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler expressed cautious optimism regarding the progress of young talents Stefanos Tzimas and Babis Kostoulas, following their recent appearances in the Carabao Cup. While Tzimas made a notable impact by scoring on his debut, Hurzeler emphasized the importance of contextualizing such performances as the team strategizes their integration into English football.
Fabian Hurzeler said: “On the one side we are all happy that he scores, that he makes his debut. That he shows why we signed him. But for me it is always important to watch the games in context. The game was already 3-0, the game was decided, the game was done. And then it might be easier to get into a game with extra intensity than we have in Premier League games. For sure, every goal gives himself confidence. Every goal gets him closer to the team. Every performance, every minute he receives gets him closer to the team and that is also what we see on a daily basis in training. But it is step one and there need to be more steps to be ready. It might be the next step is at the weekend, might be the next step is that he gets some minutes in the under-21s. We will have to figure it out together with the medical staff, together with him what is the next perfect step for him.”
Hurzeler added: “I think he (Tzimas) proved a little yesterday exactly these things we saw in training. He is a striker. He is there where you score goals. He is able to score goals from different angles and that is something very special and he showed it already in training so we are very pleased with him. Also Babis (Kostoulas) had his first minutes. He is a little bit behind Stefanos regarding adaptation. But both are doing well in training, both are getting closer and I am sure that Stefanos will be soon a big option for us.”
Tzimas’ debut goal has certainly boosted his confidence and brought him closer to the first team, as noted by Hurzeler. However, the manager is keen to ensure that the striker continues to develop at a measured pace, possibly involving more game time with the under-21 squad. This approach underscores a broader strategy to integrate young players into the team without rushing their development, especially when transitioning to the intensity of Premier League matches.
Meanwhile, Kostoulas, who also had his first minutes in the recent cup match, is slightly behind Tzimas in terms of adaptation. Despite this, Hurzeler remains confident in both players’ potential, emphasizing their positive performance in training. The manager’s comments reflect a careful balance between nurturing young talent and maintaining competitive standards within the team.
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