Roberto De Zerbi

#PLStories- Roberto De Zerbi admits he wants to sign a successor to Moises Caicedo #BHAFC

The Ecuador international was not involved on Saturday as Chelsea moved in to hijack Liverpool’s £111 million move for the player. While the deal has not been completed, the midfielder is now expected to head to Stamford Bridge for a British record fee. Albion did not require his particular qualities in the season-opener as they beat Luton 4-1 at the Amex. But De Zerbi wants a replacement for Caicedo to be brought in rather than, as on Saturday, giving his midfield a different look. He told The Argus: “Yes, I think we need another midfielder if Caicedo leaves. And, for me, he can leave. “We need another midfielder with the same characteristics, the same importance. “In the Premier League, you know better than me, in midfield positions, sometimes you need more kilogrammes, more impact.” Mahmoud Dahoud started in midfield against the Hatters and impressed with his range of passing. De Zerbi said: “Dahoud is a great player for us because he is specific for our idea of football, for our style of play. “But I think we lost different characteristics. “Dahoud is different to Moises Caicedo.”
Moises Caicedo

#PLStories- Moises Caicedo thanks fans on the awards night of Brighton before impending transfer #BHAFC

The midfielder was named Player Of The Year at the club’s belated 2022-23 prize night. He was also voted Players’ Player Of The Year by his colleagues. The Ecuador international, who is wanted by Chelsea, used his improving English in two acceptance speeches at the Amex. He told fans: “I am so happy. I am very proud of myself. “Thank you to my team-mates and all the fans for their amazing support. “It was fantastic this season. I am so happy to reach the Europa League with Brighton, who were the team who opened the doors in the Premier League. It was so good. “Why not give my best for this amazing club?” Asked whether he had a message for supporters, he replied: “Thank you all the fans for your amazing support. “It was amazing last season. Without your support, it would be impossible. I am grateful to you.” He added: “I do this for my family because they are my inspiration. My mum and dad always were there for me in good and bad moments. “I am going to give my mum this present (the award). “She is here in Brighton. I am going to arrive in my flat and say, ‘Mum, this is for you.” Caicedo was rapturously cheered and appauded by supporters, although many will also be aware his double emulates the feat of Marc Cucurella - who went on to join Chelsea within weeks.
Moises Caicedo

#PLStories- Moises Caicedo explains his right-back role for Brighton #BHAFC

The Ecuador midfield star went head-to-head with Marcus Rashford last night. He helped Albion beat Manchester United 1-0 and keep a fifth clean sheet in their last six home games. Albion were without specialists Joel Veltman and Tariq Lamptey as well as Pascal Gross. Caicedo told The Argus: “I’ve never played right-back. “It was my first time at right-back and I tried to do my best. “It was good. It was difficult because Rashford is a really hard winger to mark but I think I did it the best I could. “Veltman, Tariq, Pascal are injured so he (Roberto De Zerbi) called me here, we had a meeting and he asked if I’d like to play in this position. “I said, ‘If you want me to play there, I’d be delighted. I’ll try and do it the best I can’. “It’s not my position that I usually play but I’ll try. “He told me only three hours before the game. “But you have to ready for anything on the pitch.” Caicedo said beating United was special after the disappointment suffered at Wembley. He said: “We’re very happy for the result and I think we deserved it. “I think at Wembley we also deserved to win as well but that’s football. “We really wanted to win this game. “Of course we want to win. “Brighton is a very big club. “We have lots of talented players, lots of youngsters so we want to be in lots of competitions.” Caicedo returned to the XI having been rested from kick-off against Wolves, when Billy Gilmour started. He was happy to see the former Chelsea make an impression. Caicedo said: “My colleague Billy came in I was really happy because he hasn’t had many minutes. I’m also happy for my colleagues who play and I hope they do as well as they can, “That means we have good players and we have a second team, if we can call it like that.”
Roberto De Zerbi

#PLStories- Roberto De Zerbi sends Moises Caicedo message to Brighton fans after transfer saga #BHAFC

The midfielder will play against Bournemouth tomorrow after offers from Arsenal were rejected. Caicedo put out a social media statement, for which his agent has claimed at least some of the responsibility, saying he wished to leave the club. But De Zerbi has spoken to the player and says they are ready to put events of January behind them. The head coach said: “I want to speak to our fans because I want them to support him. “I don't want them to criticise him. “I love Moises. The people who work at Brighton love Moises. “He is a good guy. I don't know if he made a mistake or not but the transfer market is closed and the fans must follow me because I take responsibility for him and if, I say something clear about Moises, they have to believe me." De Zerbi is delighted to have Caicedo on board for the result of the season. “I don’t know,” replied the Italian boss when asked if Caicedo will depart Sussex before next season. “I want to be responsible about him because I believe in Moises. I don’t know the situation in the future but he’s a good guy and I want to defend him now. “In other times I spoke a different way for the other players but for Moises it’s different. “We need the performance of Moises and he’s a fantastic guy and so I don’t want to hear criticism or anything more.”
Roberto De Zerbi

#PLStories- Moises Caicedo’s response to praise from Roberto De Zerbi #BHAFC

Moises Caicedo has welcomed bold predictions for his future by his Albion boss. The Seagulls star is set to kick off the World Cup as Ecuador face Qatar in the opening fixture tomorrow (4pm). He has been spoken of by head coach Roberto De Zerbi as potentially one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and Europe. Caicedo, 21, told The Argus: “I heard him say this, I saw this and it makes me feel very happy the coach said that. “It motivates me even more to keep growing. “Personally, I think I am a very important player, that I’m going to go a long way and that I’m going to be watched by the whole world. “That’s what I am preparing myself for. “He is helping me with any detail that I keep growing as a player and a person.” Caicedo has gone to Qatar a more rounded player after De Zerbi tweaked his midfield role with the Seagulls. He said: “He likes to pass the ball more through the central midfielders. “I am a bit further back but I like it. “I enjoy that they pass the ball through me, that they have that confidence in me. “Having Alexis (Mac Allister) next to me helps even more because we speak the same language. “We understand each other very well and I am growing with him.” Caicedo said losing former boss Graham Potter was a big setback at the time. He added: “Of course, I think for all the players it was a very tough blow to take because we were very happy with him, with the work we were doing. “Now I’m very happy with the new coach and what we are doing. “At the same time, I’m happy for Potter because sometimes these chances only come once and he had the opportunity to go to one of the best clubs on the world. “I am very pleased for him and his staff.”
Roberto De Zerbi

#PLStories- Roberto De Zerbi rates Brighton’s Moises Caicedo highly #BHAFC

Moises Caicedo has been told he can be one of the best midfielders in Europe. Now Roberto De Zerbi is looking to get the most of his talents. Caicedo has another chance to impress as Albion take on champions Manchester City at the Etihad today (3pm). De Zerbi has tweaked the midfield pairing of Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister. The Argentina international revealed he has been told to have at least 100 touches of the ball per game, as reported in The Argus this week. De Zerbi said: “Caicedo is improving so much the quality of his play. “In your newspaper you produced a statistic for the touches on the ball by Mac Allister. “For Caicedo, it is the same. “He has almost tripled his touches of the ball in a match. “Caicedo for me could become one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and in Europe.” Asked what impressed him, De Zerbi said: “Caicedo is a top player with and without the ball. “There are many players who are very good with the ball but without it in defensive spaces are not so good. “Others in the defensive space are top but with the ball, there are some problems. “With Caicedo, I don’t see anything not at the top level. “And he is only 20, he is very young, so he can learn and improve more. He has no limit.” Caicedo had 99 touches in the 1-0 defeat by Tottenham and 80 against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday compared to 53 in the win over Leicester, which was the last game before the change of management.
Graham Potter Brighton

#PLStories- Graham Potter praises Moises Caicedo and talks Neal Maupay exit after narrow win #BHAFC

Graham Potter has laughed off talk of a £42 million bid for Moises Caicedo and said: That might get his boots. Albion are “calm and confident” about keeping the Ecuador midfielder on board. Caicedo is likely to be linked with other Premier League clubs going into the final hours of the transfer window. But it appears near certain he will be staying with the Seagulls. His focus will be on helping chase a win at Fulham this evening which would take them top of the Premier League. Potter said: “It doesn’t surprise me that people are looking at him because he is playing at a fantastic level. “As soon as you do research on him you realise he is a top kid, great person, young, playing in the Premier League, has all the attributes to play at the very, very highest level.” “But we know the position he is in and we know the position the club are in, which is why we don’t want to lose him. “We don’t think we will, but in football you never know. That is how it is, but we are quite calm and confident.” Asked about speculation of a £42 million Liverpool offer, Potter said with a laugh: “I think you’d probably get his boots for that, maybe, knowing the chairman! “It’s not for me to talk about. It is what it is.”
Graham Potter Brighton

#PLStories- Graham Potter makes Moises Caicedo admission and reveals admiration for David Moyes #BHAFC #WHUFC

The Ecuador international is due to make hiS 11th Premier League appearance when the Seagulls visit West Ham tomorrow. He has done enough in his previous ten to attract interest from several big clubs, including Manchester United and Liverpool. But head coach Graham Potter says the 20-year-old’s feet remain firmly on the ground. Potter said: “He’s a really humble person. He loves playing football and is really low maintenance as a footballer. “He wants to join in with his team-mates and he’s really enjoying his football, as you can imagine. “He’s only young, but he’s got such a high possibility. “We love him here. As for speculation, it is what it is, you’re always going to get that stuff, but we’re really enjoying having him here.” Potter has said on several occasions he might have waited too long to give Caicedo his Premier League chance. He added: “I am happy for him that he’s enjoying his football. “He hasn’t played many games. He hasn’t played that many games in the Premier League, so maybe he thinks it’s easier than it is, but long may that continue.”
Jeremy Sarmiento

#PLStories- Brighton’s Moises Caicedo is inspiration to Ecuadorian Jeremy Sarmiento #BHAFC

Jeremy Sarmiento has revealed his colleague and best mate is inspiring him to shine for Albion and Ecuador. The winger and his family have been helping Moises Caicedo settle into English life after his move from South America. Sarmiento and Caicedo are close mates off the pitch and are currently away with their national team. Caicedo has made a huge impression with the Seagulls and is a mainstay of La Tri. He played the full game as Ecuador beat Cape Verde 1-0 in a friendly in Florida last night. Sarmiento has not reached that level yet and has been impeded by injury. But he is back in action after his latest hamstring issue, havving played the first half last night, and has set sights high. Caicedo spent the first half of last season on loan at Beerschot. Sarmiento said: “When I knew he was coming back from Belgium, from the first minute I was with him. “Helping him with whatever. “I also learn a lot from him on the pitch. “He is playing all the matches and he is tearing it up and that pushes me to be in the team with him on the same pitch. “It is fantastic to have a friend who I can share things with at Brighton and in the Ecuador squad.” Sarmiento was first to make his Prem debut – and was handed a first start at West Ham on December 1. A hamstring injury early in that game blew a big hole in his season. He suffered a similar, but less serious, setback when he suddenly pulled up when playing for the under-23s at home to Chelsea late in the campaign. While not a major blow, it was enough to end his club season. But Ecuador boss Gustavo Alfaro has used him as a sub in recent friendlies against Nigeria and Mexico in the United States. From New Jersey and Chicago, Ecuador have now moved south to Fort Lauderdale to play Cape Verde over the weekend. Sarmiento loves the fact they have stuck with him during his injury problems. He said: “When I made my debut with Brighton, from what they tell me, I think they were watching as well. “They got in contact with my dad, with the club, with me. “They offered me the chance to go to qualifiers against Bolivia, Colombia and Venezuela. “I was surprised, to tell the truth. “It was very quick, I didn’t expect it. “But I could see they had this trust in me that Gustavo still has. “I thank him a lot, not only him but the staff and coaches as well. “I’ve had injuries and it has not been easy for me and they know I’m not at my maximum yet, still recovering. “But they still keep me in mind. “They still have this confidence in me. WHY BRIGHTON LOOKS RIGHT CHOICE FOR IN-DEMAND JULIO ENCISO “I’m very grateful for this chance to help the team get as far as possible. I’m happy.” Sarmiento was born to Ecuadorean parents in Madrid. He spent about a decade in London, followed by a stint in Lisbon playing for Benfica. Three countries were keen on getting him involved in their national set-ups. He said: “When I first came to Brighton, England called me and so did Spain. “But I always had this dream of representing my country and also my parents’ country and making them happy as well. “I feel more at home with the Ecuador national team. “The atmosphere there is different to, for example, people here. “Here people are colder. “There, you go in the changing room and everyone is dancing (laughs) and doing stuff, it’s good to be in this atmosphere. “My time with the Ecuador squad has been phenomenal.”
Graham Potter Brighton

#PLStories- Brighton’s #MoisesCaicedo joins Beerschot on loan as #Graham Potter provides insight #BHAFC

Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo has joined Belgian top-flight side Beerschot on a season-long loan, subject to international clearance. The 19-year-old joined Albion from Independiente del Valle in February. He then went on to make three appearances for the U23s last season. Caicedo was then handed his senior debut in the Seagulls 2-0 win over Cardifff last week, where he set-up Andi Zeqiri for their second goal. Albion head coach Graham Potter said:  “This loan will gives Moises the chance to play regularly, something we believe will be of huge benefit to him at this stage in his career. “As with all our players heading out on loan, we will be keeping a close eye on how he progresses this season and we wish Moises all the best for the season ahead in Belgium.”
Graham Potter Brighton

#PLStories- #GrahamPotter discusses next step for #MoisesCaicedo #BHAFC

Albion have been considering a loan move for Moises Caicedo ahead of Tuesday’s transfer deadline. But Graham Potter has made it clear they like what they see from the Ecuador international. Caicedo was brought into midfield at Cardiff City in midweek and played a huge part in the night’s second goal, calmly converted by Andi Zeqiri. Potter stopped to correct himself when he spoke about Caicedo’s first proper taste of English football. Not because he had any doubts over the value of those 90 minutes in a competitive Carabao Cup contest. But he broke off after his reference to English football to say: “Well, Welsh opposition.” One would expect nothing less from a former Swansea manager. Caicedo has had to wait longer for action than his army of fans back home were expecting. He has been on the bench in the Premier League and his chances of some minutes will improve if Enock Mwepu is ruled out of the Everton game. But he has had to be patient for an opportunity and, so it appears, it may be he has to go elsewhere for serious involvement. Potter told The Argus: “He has had to be patient. “He came in halfway through the season, which is never easy to do. “Obviously this season he missed a bit with his involvement in the Copa America. “We like him, really believe in him. “It’s about finding the right pathway for him in terms of into the first team. “The other night would have been important for him, just to face a British football game. “That was important for him to just feel that and then of course we need to make a decision in terms of what the next steps for him are. “Whether it’s closer to our first team, whether it’s a possible loan move. “We will see, we will make the right call there. “But we believe in him a lot.” That answer clearly suggested a loan move was being looked at. Asked for confirmation of that, Potter replied: “As I have said with quite a lot of players, you have got to make the right decision in terms of whether we have got cover enough to make sure we are competitive in the games. “Then, with each individual, assess what the right thing for them to do is in terms of if there is an opportunity where we can significantly speed up their development. “As we have seen with Ben (White), it’s a way for the guys to be in our first team, it’s a way for the guys to develop themselves. “So it’s something you can’t rule out but, equally, he could be in our first team in a couple of weeks. “That’s the beauty of football. You never know!” Caicedo’s debut at Cardiff was noted by media back home, including a tweet from the club which described him as the “machine in midfield.” That is not surprising. Even his games as an unused sub have been diligently reported. He will miss three World Cup qualifiers over the next fortnight against Uruguay, Chile and Paraguay with Premier League clubs not releasing their internationals who would have been heading to countries on the Government’s red list. Whether that means his next stop is Brentford – or somewhere else on loan - remains to be seen. If he is still around, there could be a home date with more Welsh opposition in the form of Swansea in the third round of the Carabao Cup. It means Potter takes on the club he used to manage - and that is something he will look forward to when it draws closer. He said: “It’s a home tie for us which is important at this stage. “We’ve got three Premier League games before then so I haven’t given it too much thought. “But I am looking forward to seeing some really good people because it’s a fantastic football club, Swansea. “I had a really enjoyable year there and it would be good to see some familiar faces.”