Brighton boss outlines Leeds United 'very intense' expectation with Daniel Farke verdict
Leeds United welcome Brighton to Elland Road for their final Premier League home game on Sunday.
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler expects to face a ‘very intense’ Leeds United side on Sunday with Elland Road providing a ‘special atmosphere’.
Leeds will walk out at Elland Road for the final time this season on Sunday and will do so with Premier League safety secured. But Monday’s battling 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur was evidence, should anyone need it, that summer holidays aren’t being planned just yet.
Neither Daniel Farke nor his players showed any signs of being on the beach and will be equally up for Sunday, hoping to end their home campaign on a high. Brighton still have a potential Champions League place to claim but won’t be heading north for a walkover.
“I’m expecting a team that is difficult to beat, I think they haven’t lost since March in the Premier League,” Hurzeler said. “That shows they are in a really good run.
“They have some good individual quality, they play very intense, they changed to a back five so are very compact on one side but also a very active team. I think it's a special atmosphere playing in their stadium. The fans are behind them.
“They achieved something really nice by staying in the league. We expect a tough challenge, tough opponent, but on the other side we go there to try and play our style of football, we go there to dominate the game. That’s our challenge.”
Leeds have been particularly strong in front of their own, winning 29 of their 44 points at Elland Road. Teams competing with Brighton for Champions League football have left West Yorkshire with a bloody nose and dropped points when not at their best.
Brighton boss praise for Leeds United and Daniel Farke
“We expect a very intense game,” Hurzeler explained. “We expect a game of personal duels, winning second balls and having a lot of transition moments. I think it’s not fire against fire, it’s important we go there and stick to our style of play.
“Our style is to be intense in every moment of the game but also to control the game. Therefore, Leeds have similar things, so regarding our standard we have to be on the highest level.
“We have to control the controllables. We have to have the right mindset, the right approach. We need to go there and reach our limits to challenge Leeds.”
Elland Road won’t be particularly welcoming for Brighton but Hurzeler will at least receive a warm greeting from his opposite number. Fellow German Daniel Farke has overseen an impressive turnaround at Leeds with few expecting them to be safe with games to spare.
“He’s done an unbelievable job, I’m really happy for him,” Hurzeler added of his compatriot. “He went through a tough period but showed great reaction.
“The team stuck together, they played some great football games especially in the last weeks. I’m really pleased and happy for him. He’s done an incredible job with Leeds.”
Brighton will be without key winger Kaoru Mitoma due to a hamstring injury while Adam Webster and Stefanos Tzimas are long-term absentees. Midfielder Diego Gomez and full-back Mats Wieffer could both return.