Forest are preparing to face Brighton in the FA Cup quarter-finals and one topic is off limits for Fabian Hurzeler
Brighton has a potentially historic opportunity when they play Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup quarterfinal on Saturday, but Fabian Hurzeler is determined to control the excitement.
Of the eight teams who have advanced thus far in the competition, the Seagulls are one of four that have never taken home a major trophy; the other three are Fulham, Crystal Palace, and Bournemouth.
There is a sense that this year might see a new name inscribed on the venerable old trophy, as the most of the Premier League’s major players have already been eliminated, leaving only an underwhelming Manchester City among the so-called “big six.”
“Of course we feel it but for me, it’s important we don’t make it artificially big,” Hurzeler stated. “Of course, it’s a significant game, but it’s also like all the others because we can get better at them and we have to push ourselves to the limit.
“I am not trying to make it artificially big, we all know it’s a big opportunity, a big chance but it’s like all the other games as well.”
The German made it apparent that his demeanour did not imply a lack of confidence in his team’s ability to succeed this season.
“There are three things that made us strong in the past – intensity, we try to outwork and outrun opponents,” he stated. Togetherness is essential; we must remain united during both positive and negative times.
The last thing is, in this phase of the season, we need to have the belief. And I have the biggest belief in this group – the belief that they can win and that they can achieve a season everyone remembers.
“But if you want to show all three things then it’s important we don’t force it.”
The prospect of Wembley was not the only topic off-limits for Hurzeler ahead of Forest’s visit.
Chris Wood scored a hat-trick as Nuno Espirito Santo’s team crushed Brighton 7-0 at the City Ground at the beginning of February, their worst loss in 67 years.
Hurzeler had said, “I won’t discuss it,”
“The players took a lot of ownership and a lot of responsibility and they said we have to go back to the things that made us strong and things that make us strong are working together, showing intensity and this belief that we can beat every team in the league.”
