In an in-depth interview with Sky Sports Germany, Hülzeler, a core member of Brighton FC's coaching staff, talks about his philosophy of working at the club and his competitive attitude towards challenging a Manchester City side coached by Pep Guardiola.
Referring to Brighton's accurate data analysis, Hülzeler revealed, "My analytical style complements Brighton's data-driven strategy. I have a love of numbers and the scouting team and management here are even more keen on data-driven decision-making. Not only do numbers help us prepare for games, but they also provide insight into a player's personal growth trajectory, which is very beneficial to my work. However, numbers aren't everything, and they can't fully capture the emotional turmoil in the locker room, the psychological changes, the resilience, and the rapport between the coach and the team. Nonetheless, numbers do provide empirical support for my work."
Speaking about his tactical philosophy, Hülzeler said, "It is vital to teach players to understand the subtle details of the game, which takes time, trust and a strong belief in its effectiveness. Initially, we encountered a number of challenges, but we are gradually overcoming them. The players' attitude and curiosity to train on a daily basis is crucial to me. I try to simplify tactics and repeat them over and over again, as I believe repetition is a recipe for memorization. At the same time, I realize that different teaching strategies are needed for different players; it's a long process and success takes time to build."
Faced with the experience of playing against a Manchester City team led by Pep Guardiola, Hülzeler said bluntly: "Guardiola is undoubtedly one of the top coaches in the world, and his soccer philosophy has completely reshaped the sport. It's a huge challenge to play against him. But beating Manchester City means a lot to the players, and the victory has boosted their sense of strength both individually and as a team. You can't beat City without putting in the effort. The players' recent performances have been impressive and are a reward for their hard work. However, there are still tons of things we can learn from Guardiola."
Finally, Hülzeler expressed his concern about Guardiola's performance in a difficult situation, "At the moment, Manchester City is facing challenges, so naturally I'm going to focus on how Guardiola shows himself under great pressure and how he protects his team. It's exciting to witness how the best coach in the world overcomes difficult situations."
