Brighton Deserved More Than A Draw Against Manchester City, Says Fabian Hurzeler

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Fabian Hurzeler expressed that Brighton deserved to win against Manchester City after a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium. Brighton's impressive six-game winning streak ended with this engaging match against last season's champions. Erling Haaland scored first for City with a penalty, but Pervis Estupinan equalised through a remarkable free-kick. Omar Marmoush then put City back in front before an own goal by Abdukodir Khusanov levelled the score again.

Brighton had more opportunities to secure victory, finishing with 15 shots compared to City's 11 and achieving an expected goals (xG) tally of 2.11 against City's 1.77. Despite missing several chances in the second half, including those by Yankuba Minteh, Kaoru Mitoma, Jack Hinshelwood, and Carlos Baleba, Brighton settled for a point. They are just two points away from the top four, which is likely enough for Champions League qualification this season.

Hurzeler told BBC Sport that conceding goals cheaply was an area for improvement. He praised his team’s resilience in coming back twice and creating opportunities to win. "We showed our identity and that's how we want to play," he said. Although pleased with the performance, Hurzeler was not satisfied with the result, believing they should have left as winners.

Brighton has yet to win in their 15 league visits to Manchester City, recording three draws and 12 losses. This draw marked their first avoidance of defeat since December 1982 at Maine Road. Full-back Jack Hinshelwood commented on the challenge of playing at City: "When you come to Man City, it's a tough place to come." Despite City's struggles this season, he acknowledged it remains a difficult venue.

The club aims to maintain momentum from their current run of form, believing they can compete against any team. Hinshelwood noted the fans' incredible support and expressed optimism about sustaining their momentum: "If we can keep this momentum going, it's going to be hard to stop us." Last season's European experience has motivated Brighton to strive for similar achievements again.

Brighton will face Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup quarter-finals after the international break. Meanwhile, Manchester City will compete against Bournemouth for a spot in the semi-finals. The focus remains on continuing their strong performances throughout the rest of the season.

Hurzeler emphasised staying grounded and humble while pushing each other forward: "This club always works hard." Reflecting on their recovery from a heavy loss earlier in February against Forest, he credited their success to doing the basics right and stressed maintaining this approach for future matches.