by Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi has claimed that Manchester City play “another sport” compared to the rest of the Premier League but admits he is relishing the challenge.
City will go into Saturday’s encounter with the Seagulls on the back of their first defeat of the season away at Liverpool last weekend. Mohamed Salah scored the only goal of the game as the Blues succumbed to the Premier League loss.
However, midweek results for the Blues were more positive as third-place Tottenham Hotspur lost away at Manchester United on Wednesday to keep City second. Arsenal and Pep Guardiola’s team did not play in midweek due to the Gunners’ rearranged Europa League tie taking place on Thursday.
Ahead of the clash with City, Seagulls boss De Zerbi was full of praise for the Blues. “Manchester City play another sport, in terms of quality and football,” he told Amazon Prime after his side’s goalless draw with Nottingham Forest.
“But if you want to achieve the best mentality, you have to play against Manchester City like another team. We have to build our mentality and put our goals one step more.”
De Zerbi revealed when he was hired by the south coast club that Guardiola had called to congratulate him on his appointment and there is plenty of goodwill between the two managers. Speaking after he replaced Graham Potter, the Italian said: “Guardiola contacted me on Sunday, he’s very happy and spoke highly of this club, said he’s always ready to help me if I should need anything – except for the game we play against each other.
“We met each other when he was the trainer in Bayern. A couple of months ago I flew to Manchester to meet with him. He is a great trainer and we all look at him.”
