Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi responds passionately to Aston Villa hounding

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi didn’t shy away from criticism after his side were demolished 6-1 by Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.

Turned inside out by the intense pressure applied by Unai Emery’s team, the Seagulls, who were 3-0 down within just 26 minutes, experienced a humbling at Villa Park.

Brighton started the day third in the Premier League – three points and 10 goal difference ahead of Villa – but have now been leapfrogged by the men in claret and blue.

“Everything went wrong. We played very bad and I think it’s not a problem of physical condition,” De Zerbi admitted to the media in the post-match press conference.

“First of all, when we lose this type of game it’s my responsibility because if you lose 6-1, the biggest responsibility is of the coach.

“The second one, we played very bad but we are not ready to compete and to play every three days because the first 11 were fresh; Veltman, Webster, Dunk, Gilmour, March, Ferguson, Steele – they didn’t play Wednesday. I’m trying to manage it in a different way.

“Playing every three days is another sport. We are not ready to compete at this level,” De Zerbi continued.

Crushed with a second successive defeat, Albion must pick themselves up ahead of two more vital matches before the week is out – against Marseille and Liverpool.

There’s a lot to learn from the painful day at Villa Park and De Zerbi insists his team will look very different for the Europa League clash in the south of France.

“Today is an important day for us because we have to learn. We lost, we are suffering and it’s a very bad day. But it’s maybe one of the most important days in our life and time at Brighton because the level is changing.

“We wanted to reach this level and now we can play and compete for history of our club. We are playing different things than football – if everyone thinks like this, you can find the mental energy.

“I believe in my players. I have a big belief in the people in my dressing room. We are suffering a lot for this defeat. We are sorry for the fans and for our club but sometimes it can happen to lose in this way.

“Thursday you will see another Brighton,” De Zerbi concluded.