How Hurzeler is using Wieffer to unleash Brighton forwards

Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be decisive in Matchweek 2.

Match analysis - Brighton v Man Utd

Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton & Hove Albion side hit the ground running with an incredibly dynamic performance, both on and off the ball, brimming with positive energy last weekend against Everton.

Two of their goals in the superb 3-0 success at Goodison Park came from moves where they strode purposefully from one end of the pitch to the other.

The Seagulls also scored from a turnover they created through excellent pressing in the opposition half.

Notably, Brighton ran significantly harder than any other side last weekend.

Top teams for distance run in Matchweek 1

Based on what we saw from Brighton at Goodison Park, then, Man Utd’s first away match of 2024/25 looks set to be a challenging examination.

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2-1

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Watch out for Wieffer

Brighton’s new central midfielder Mats Wieffer was outstanding against Everton, dominating between both penalty boxes with his athleticism and calm decision-making.

Wieffer never stopped moving and covered an extraordinary 12.27km, the second-most of any Premier League player behind Manchester City's Bernardo Silva.

When Hurzeler’s side have the ball ,Wieffer's midfield partner James Milner pushes on to his right, with No 10 Joao Pedro or striker Danny Welbeck dropping into pockets to his left.

As you can see in the pass matrix below, everything went through No 27 Wieffer, who was essentially the lone holding midfielder, so there will be an onus on Bruno Fernandes or Mason Mount to stop him controlling that part of the field in Saturday’s encounter at the AMEX Stadium.

Wieffer's passes against Everton

Wieffer also made a team-high eight ball recoveries against Everton, in addition to winning three of his four tackles.

From one excellent piece of anticipation the 24-year-old stepped forward to steal the ball from a loose Idrissa Gueye pass, before releasing Welbeck to run on and score Brighton’s second goal.

Wieffer's assist for Welback

While Man Utd’s midfield was excellent for two-thirds of their opening match against Fulham, we did see Marco Silva’s side slice them open on numerous occasions late on when the Man Utd moved away from a strikerless 4-2-4-0 system.

If, as expected, Joshua Zirkzee starts, Erik ten Hag’s side will have one fewer midfielder on the pitch, so they must tighten up in this area as Brighton have the players to punish them.

Purposeful football

Hurzeler’s team can press, pass and counter-attack with real quality, and that roundedness came to the fore in the 31-year-old’s Premier League managerial debut.

Kaoru Mitoma’s 25th-minute goal came from a breakaway down the full length of the pitch that he started himself when regaining possession on the edge of his own box.

The Japanese star’s pressing of Ashley Young also instigated a turnover that led to the Everton defender's red card, and Welbeck’s goal also came from a terrific transition, as discussed above.

Just like their next opponents Man Utd, the Seagulls’ stats for PPDA (passes per defensive action), which measures the success of their pressing, were exceptionally good.

Top teams for PPDA in Matchweek 1

Carrying on a Brighton tradition

Brighton also served a reminder that under their new head coach they will continue to draw opponents onto them and play out from the goalkeeper.

Their third and final goal was a beautiful example of how to create opportunities from restarts at the back.

In just five passes (Jason Steele-Wieffer-Mitoma-Wieffer-Welbeck) they released Simon Adingra with a switch of play, before he ran on to score.

There was also a strong verticality about them, with Hurzeler’s players moving the ball a touch more directly than they did under Roberto De Zerbi.

No team registered more of those types of passes than Brighton across Matchweek 1, with 65 per cent of their balls classified as "forward".

Top teams for forward passes in Matchweek 1

If Man Utd’s out-of-possession shape is not compact, Brighton will turn defence into attack quickly.

Beware of the ball carriers

Ten Hag’s full-backs will need plenty of support from team-mates, to help slow down Brighton’s pacy wingers.

If the contest becomes stretched and there is space to run into, Mitoma, Minteh and Adingra all have the running power to hurt them.

Left-winger Mitoma, who is likely to be up against Noussair Mazraoui, carried the ball further than any other top-flight forward last weekend, with an aggregate distance of 177.56m.

Between them, having played 45 minutes apiece, Minteh and Adingra carried the ball 129m towards goal too, while matching Mitoma’s impressive 12 carries as a pair.

It will not be in Man Utd’s interests to let this encounter become an end-to-end basketball match.

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