Roberto De Zerbi, Brighton’s manager, attributed their 3-1 victory over Manchester United to their possession-based style of play. Brighton put on a strong performance with goals from Danny Welbeck, Pascal Gross, and Joao Pedro securing the win at Old Trafford.
Although Manchester United started the game brightly and had an equalizer denied through VAR, Brighton maintained control for most of the match. De Zerbi praised his team for sticking to their gameplan against United, even when facing pressure.
De Zerbi stated, “We played a great, great game. We deserved to win, we played well,” adding that Brighton adapted to United’s different playing style after the first 15-20 minutes.
He emphasized the importance of keeping possession, as it allowed them to control the game and utilize their fast and skillful attackers. De Zerbi stressed the need to maintain their style and quality, regardless of the score.
Pascal Gross acknowledged the need to adjust to United’s tactical approach at the start of the game. Once Brighton figured it out, they improved defensively and demonstrated control on the ball, finding spaces and gaps to be dangerous on the attack.
