Albion v Chelsea
FA CUP - FOURTH ROUND
Venue: The American Express Stadium
Date: Saturday 8th February 2025
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Assistants: Darren Cann, Sam Lewis
Fourth Official: James Bell
Hürzeler on Cashin, a '12th man' and a 'do or die' game
Fabian Hürzeler has been speaking to the media before Saturday's FA Cup game against Chelsea.
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
- Injured players Yasin Ayari, Carlos Baleba and Pervis Estupiñán are all "doubtful" for the game, but he added: "There might be a possibility that two out of them three have a chance to play."
- Mats Wieffer is back in training but the next one or two games will come "too quickly". Solly March is doing "really well" but he is still focusing on rehabilitation and should be back soon.
- The club's injury situation will "never be used as an excuse" for bad results: "I know the statistics that we are the club with the most injuries, but for me it's important that we accept it because it's part of business. We don't want to make it an excuse and that's how I will handle it in the future also."
- New signing Eiran Cashin could be involved this weekend after making a "great impact" since joining from Derby County. He added: "Eiran is a great guy, he has the right attitude, he is here to learn but also to help us."
- He hopes the Seagulls will bounce back from their 7-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest last time out: "We analysed the game. We were honest with each other. We had a lot of individual talks. In these moments, I think it's important to analyse and find the right solutions so that you don't overreact. We still think we are on a good path and one game shouldn't define our season or our whole team."
- On the players' reaction since the heavy defeat, he offered: "They showed great intensity in training. We were honest that our standards weren't high enough and we weren't demanding enough from each other. We have said that we need to commit now and be a team that is difficult to beat."
- He is aware of the criticism he has received from fans this week: "I'm not in a place to say if it's fair or not fair. It's about bouncing back and showing a reaction. All we can do is work hard and give the fans what they deserve. We all apologised after the game, and I do it again, but now it's about looking to the future and sticking together. We need them as the 12th man."
- Hürzeler says the FA Cup presents "a chance to win a title" so therefore it holds "a big meaning for the club".
- On facing Enzo Maresca's Chelsea, he added: "We will go all in. It is a 'do or die' game. We have proven already this season that we can beat everyone. We will have a very positive mindset, of full confidence, to go into this game."
- Brighton and Hove Albion have lost each of their last four meetings with Chelsea in all competitions, and the Seagulls have also won just one of their last 11 home matches against the Blues (D3 L7).
- Chelsea have progressed from their last two FA Cup ties against Brighton, doing so in the 1966-67 fourth round (4-0 via a replay) and the 1972-73 third round (2-0).
- Since their promotion to the Premier League in 2017, Brighton have won five of their six FA Cup fourth round ties, with the exception being a 3-1 loss at Spurs in 2021-22.
- Chelsea have progressed from 25 of their last 27 FA Cup fourth round ties, with the exceptions in this run coming against Everton (2010-11) and Bradford City (2014-15).
- Brighton’s Georginio Rutter has been involved in four goals in his last two FA Cup appearances (3 goals, 1 assist), despite playing just 101 minutes across these two games.
Fabian Hürzeler's Chelsea Press Conference
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