De Zerbi’s first shot makes noise: 4 goals against Chelsea from his predecessor

“Roooo-berto De Zerbi!”. The Amex Stadium crowd invokes the name of his new manager, after watching Brighton tear Chelsea to pieces and take the first win of their new era. A more than deserved success, on which the hand of the Italian coach who won the first confrontation with Graham Potter, his predecessor on the bench of the seagulls, is particularly evident. How much that Italian flag with the face of De Zerbi on it that passes from hand to hand in the curve of the home fans before the game. The 4-1 over Chelsea is a great way for the first party: it comes after a dominated first half, in which De Zerbi’s choice to revolutionize the team and make it more his own pays off, confirming that the enthusiasm that surrounds him is more than justified.

the keys

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Brighton wins with merit because they finally combine the goals with the good game. It is true that two of the three goals are own goals, but De Zerbi’s team played really well, especially in the first half, deserving everything they got. The Rdz Revolution goes through a 4-1 defense with the German Gross, who was the joker of the trocar until yesterday, with the goal of 4-1 the icing on the cake to an excellent match. He and Solly March – standing in front of him – are an irresistible tandem, as Trossard’s offensive point of reference.

The Belgian who unlocks the match in the middle of the attack on 5 ‘does a great job which benefits the whole team. The push on the outside is the key of the first half, like the high pressure that prevents Chelsea from thinking. Potter did not receive the best welcome from the team that was his until the beginning of September: whistled at the announcement of the formations, like the other former Marc Cucurella, the coach was teased with “They will chase you tomorrow” after the two own goals they have killed the game before half-time. Chelsea in the first half were too unbalanced, with the defense at 3 and Pulisic and Sterling as very high wards of the 4-way line behind the central striker Havertz: the 4-3-3 of the second half was much more balanced (Loftus-Cheek always seems the best solution for the right wing, at least until James returns) and has suffered the goal of Havertz, but the damage was already done. And Potter, after 10 games between Premier and Champions, took his first defeat as a Blues coach. Right in the stadium where he built his climb, mocked by his former fans who invoke the name of his successor.

the match

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Incredible start of Brighton, which passes already on 5 ‘, on the third attempt: after two saves by Thiago Silva on the line, Trossard manages to overtake Kepa on an assist from Mitoma. De Zerbi’s team doubles in the 14th minute, with Loftus-Cheek deflecting a corner from March from the right into his own goal, and after at least two great saves from Sanchez goes to rest ahead 3-0 again on an own goal, this time by Chalobah to anticipate Mythoma in the middle of the area.

Potter restarts with a new goalkeeper, Mendy, the defense at 4 and a header from Havertz after 3 ‘that rekindles the match. Not only did Brighton not be frightened, but took measures and rarely took risks, finding even the goal of poker with Gross in the 92nd minute. And so De Zerbi gets his first victory in the Premier, right against his predecessor. The new era of Brighton can officially begin.