MY ACCOUNT
Roberto De Zerbi is content at Brighton and Hove Albion and is focused on helping the Seagulls make history this season, amid speculation linking him with Tottenham.
De Zerbi has enjoyed a tremendous impact at Brighton since succeeding Graham Potter in September, leading the Seagulls into contention for European qualification.
Brighton are seven points adrift of fourth-placed Spurs in the Premier League table with three games in hand, while their tally of 43 goals this season is already their best in the competition.
With De Zerbi’s side flying, he – along with the likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Frank and Steve Cooper – has been touted as a possible successor to Antonio Conte, who appears destined to leave Spurs by the end of the campaign.
Asked about those links at a press conference ahead of Saturday’s trip to Leeds United, De Zerbi said: “I have a long contract with Brighton and I’m happy to work here.
“I’m enjoying working with these players, I’m delighted with my players for their performance and I can’t ask for more, it’s a good moment in my life.”
Ahead of the trip to Elland Road, Brighton are unbeaten in their last five Premier League away games (W3 D2), the joint-longest current run in the competition, alongside Brentford.
Brighton have also failed to score just once in 11 away league games this term (0-2 at Brentford in October) – no Premier League side have drawn a blank on fewer road trips (Arsenal also one).
With Brighton earning plaudits for their enterprising style and with the race for European qualification wide open, De Zerbi is aware of the potential their campaign holds.
“People are speaking about our quality of play, and for that I am proud. But we have to be focused only on the next games. We have a clear target,” he said.
“We have a dream. We know we can write a new history for the club. This is a nice challenge.
“It will be difficult. We know what we can expect, but now we are able to win. I think now we have a complete squad with many young players, we are stronger.
“We want to arrive in Europe but we have to push and take it game by game. Tomorrow starts a difficult period with three games in a week, but we are ready to fight for our targets.”
