Sheffield United v Albion
FA CUP - FOURTH ROUND
Venue: Bramall Lane
Date: Saturday 27th January 2024
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Referee: Sunny Singh Gill
Assistants: Lee Betts, Akil Howson
Fourth Official: James Linington
VAR: Michael Salisbury, Darren Bond
Additional VAR: Timothy Wood
De Zerbi on Fati return, contract talks and Liverpool links
Roberto de Zerbi has been speaking to the media before Brighton's FA Cup fourth-round game against Sheffield United.
Here are the main lines from his news conference:
- Defender Igor Julio is in contention for Saturday after returning from injury but Ansu Fati is not available.
- Tariq Lamptey "is not ready to start yet" but De Zerbi is hopeful he can continue to build his minutes.
- On what he hopes for when Fati returns: "When Ansu comes back, I expect from him more energy and to finish the season in the best way he can. I think he has the right motivation. He has the responsibility to show his qualities, to play well, to score goals and be important for us."
- On whether there's any development in regards to a new contract deal with Brighton: "No. There is no news about my contract but my focus is just on the last part of the season."
- He shook his head when told he was being linked with Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp announced he was leaving Anfield at the end of the campaign: "My focus is just on the last part of the season. We are going to compete and to play a historic part of the season."
- He did recognise the reasons Klopp gave for his decision: "I can understand it very well. I think our work is the best work you can do but it is very tough. You need energy - you have to push every day. If you don't work with the right energy, you lose everything."
- At the moment, it is too soon to contemplate a return to Wembley after Brighton made the FA Cup semi-finals last season: "It's an opportunity but it is too far to make other thoughts. We have to keep our focus in the game. We know the level of difficulty and we are ready to compete. To win the game, we will have to play our best."
- This is the third FA Cup tie between Sheffield United and Brighton. The Seagulls won the first one in the first round in 1921-22, while the Blades progressed in a third-round replay in 1986-87.
- Brighton are winless in seven games against Sheffield United (D3 L4, all in the league) since winning 2-1 at Bramall Lane in January 2005 in a Championship encounter.
- Sheffield United have progressed from each of their past four FA Cup fourth-round ties since losing in a replay to Preston in 2014-15.
- Under Roberto de Zerbi, Brighton are averaging 2.8 goals per game in the FA Cup (17 in six games), netting at least four goals in three of six games under the Italian. The Seagulls have won all three away games in the FA Cup since he took charge, their joint-longest away winning run in the competition, along with a three-game run ending in December 1932.
- Pascal Gross has been involved in five goals in his past six FA Cup appearances (one goal, four assists), assisting two of Brighton's four goals in the third round against Stoke City.
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