Roberto De Zerbi: Brighton head coach’s enjoying model analysed after Graham Potter leaves for Chelsea

New Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi will face the media on Tuesday – however what’s going to the progressive supervisor convey to the south-coast membership?

The Italian has been out of labor after leaving Shakhtar Donetsk in July following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and had beforehand spent three years in command of Serie A facet Sassuolo – incomes rave critiques for his model of soccer.

The 43-year-old is a fan of Pep Guardiola and Marcelo Biesa, and a voracious scholar of the sport, securing two successive eighth-placed finishes with minnows Sassuolo whereas backed with significantly much less useful resource than the Italian league’s conventional powerhouse golf equipment, all whereas promoting star gamers throughout his tenure.

Those circumstances are strikingly much like Brighton’s emergence below Graham Potter, parallels that led the membership’s hierarchy to method the progressive coach as their first-choice goal as they intention to proceed on an upwards trajectory which has taken them to fourth within the Premier League desk going into the worldwide break.

So what’s De Zerbi’s model and what’s going to he supply Brighton? We discover the info from his remaining season in cost at Sassuolo and have a look below the hood…

Direct comparisons

The radar beneath compares Brighton’s per-game returns this season to Sassuolo’s in 2020/21 and divulges apparent parallels: tactically, the groups match up in virtually all attacking metrics, apart from De Zerbi encouraging way more working with the ball and deploying fewer quick breaks.

The radar beneath, in the meantime, highlights the Italian’s possession-based model, a choice for controlling video games by means of conserving the ball and trying far fewer lengthy balls.

The set-up

De Zerbi used a 4-2-3-1 formation in 32 of his 38 Serie A video games throughout his remaining season on the helm, and proceeded to make use of it as his most well-liked system at Shakhtar. Potter began with three central defenders in virtually half of his Premier League video games final season, and all however one this time period – however the Brighton squad is well-versed in positional fluidity after three years below the brand new Chelsea supervisor.

The graphic beneath exhibits how that system of alternative affected the gamers’ common positions, with the full-backs usually influecing the sport greater up the pitch than the No 6 pairing, whereas the No 9 performed consistent with the attacking three up prime.

Conversely, De Zerbi is unlikely to encourage high-frequency crossing or aerial play, with the statistics beneath additional highlighting his most well-liked method of enjoying the ball shorter and alongside the bottom.

To additional illustrate the Italian’s achievements throughout that remaining marketing campaign in Serie A, the desk beneath ranks his gamers’ kind in accordance with the Power Rankings algorithm – all with far fewer big-name stars at his disposal than elite rivals.

This was the yr when Manuel Locatelli additionally got here to the fore throughout Euro 2020 and earned a big-money transfer to Juventus.

Domination

Without query, Sassuolo’s defining model was possession-based passing. The chart beneath highlights the extent of De Zerbi’s affect, recording league-topping totals for possession, touches, whole passes and rating second for passes within the remaining third – proving the tiki-taka method led to progressive, upfield play.

The graphic beneath exhibits precisely the place these passes had been performed and divulges a left-sided skew till approaching the opposition’s penalty space, with probably the most energetic space of distribution being within the central zone, simply inside their very own half.

New, superior metrics shed better gentle on how the techniques proved efficient, with the membership rating second for progress upfield in possession and build-up assaults, whereas topping the division for open-play passing chains comprising of 10 or extra exchanges.

Attacking menace

Sassuolo ranked round their remaining league standing in 2020/21 for many attacking metrics, however led the best way for dribbles – boosted by Chelsea graduate Jeremie Boga trying 153 take-ons throughout the marketing campaign – a complete bettered solely by two different gamers within the division.

The deeper, left-sided skew talked about beforehand interprets to the crew’s attacking thirds that time period, with a barely greater proportion of their assaults coming down that channel. However, there’s a notable unfold of hazard imposed down all thirds – with the important thing threats resulting in alternatives constructing from the flanks.

The objective and help maps beneath display this and supply additional proof of De Zerbi’s choice for shorter passes from slender, large positions, along with encouraging his gamers to fireside from vary and try reducing, direct passes from deeper, central positions.

De Zerbi’s observe report of eking the very best out of his gamers, overachieving outcomes and sustaining returns to punch among the many elite, mirrors what Brighton achieved over three seasons below Potter, and the membership can count on a brand new period of innovation with the Italian on the helm – because the Seagulls look to keep up their trajectory and disrupt the established order additional.

What the Brighton hierarchy mentioned

Brighton chairman Tony Bloom mentioned: “I am absolutely thrilled Roberto has agreed to become our new head coach. Roberto’s teams play an exciting and courageous brand of football, and I am confident his style and tactical approach will suit our existing squad superbly.”

Technical director David Weir mentioned, “Roberto has shown his undoubted ability with his work in Italy and Ukraine, and what he achieved at Sassuolo certainly stands out.

“In his quick spell with Shakhtar he loved additional success, main the membership to cup success and topping the Ukrainian league earlier than the warfare introduced an abrupt halt to his time there.

“We are delighted to welcome Roberto and we look forward to introducing him to our squad as well as providing all the support he needs to introduce his coaching philosophy and help the players continue their brilliant start to the season.”

Deputy chairman and chief government Paul Barber added: “We looked at a range of excellent candidates but Roberto was our number one choice from the start and the only person we spoke to.

“It’s no secret our chairman is continually monitoring potential coaches, each right here in our home leagues, all through Europe and internationally as a part of our succession planning work.

“We feel Roberto is the ideal cultural and technical fit for Brighton and Hove Albion, and the right person to continue the club’s progress and work with this outstanding group of players.”