Brighton & Hove Albion continued their impressive record against Premier League heavyweights by knocking Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup, with manager Fabian Hurzeler crediting the club's identity and consistent standards for the result.
The Seagulls fell behind before responding through Pascal Gross, who levelled the scoreline shortly after the hour mark. Just eight minutes later, Maxim De Cuyper struck to give Brighton the lead for good, sealing a victory that eliminated United from the competition and extended the south coast side's habit of troubling elite opposition across domestic cup competitions and the top flight.
Speaking to reporters following the win, Hurzeler reflected on the underlying reasons behind his side's ability to consistently compete with and beat clubs operating with considerably larger resources. The German coach pointed to Brighton's organisational structure and the mentality instilled throughout the club as key factors.
"We are a club that is well structured, we are a club, and I think it's very important to emphasise this, that has had high expectations," Hurzeler explained. "We want to grow and we want to challenge the establishment in a consistent way."
The 31-year-old manager went on to stress that success at Brighton is built on the accumulation of small, consistent efforts rather than isolated moments of quality. He suggested that the habits formed by players and staff on a daily basis are what ultimately allow the club to compete with sides who possess bigger budgets and more storied histories.
"We all need to focus on our daily behaviours because daily behaviours create habits and habits create this consistently to really challenge the establishment," he said.
Hurzeler also spoke about his personal commitment to the project at the Amex Stadium, insisting that he and his coaching staff remain focused on maximising the potential of the squad at their disposal. He acknowledged that while Brighton are still developing as a collective, patience remains essential as the club continues its incremental progress.
"I always try to give my best, together with my staff, together with the players to make our supporters proud," Hurzeler added. "We know that we need everyone to grow as a team and we want to go step by step, but what we definitely have is a great culture, our culture is always our foundation and our foundation is the base of every game."
The victory will serve as another reminder of Brighton's capacity to raise their level for high-profile fixtures, a trend that has become increasingly familiar under Hurzeler and previous managerial regimes at the club. For Manchester United, meanwhile, the defeat represents a fresh setback and will likely raise further questions about the squad's consistency against teams outside the traditional top bracket of English football.
With the result, Brighton move forward in the Carabao Cup while United will now turn their attention to salvaging their season through other competitions. Hurzeler's comments suggest that regardless of the opponent, his team's approach will remain rooted in the same principles of structure, growth and daily discipline that he believes define Brighton's identity under his stewardship.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport (football).