Brighton defender Lewis Dunk has been included in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the upcoming World Cup tournament, marking his first major international competition with his country. However, upon returning to his club, Dunk was met with a significant change at the Seagulls. Following the conclusion of the Premier League season, it was announced that manager Roberto de Zerbi would be departing from the club. While Dunk was away representing England in Germany, news broke that Fabian Hurzeler would be taking over as the new manager of Brighton.
In an exclusive interview with BBC Sport, Dunk discussed his conversations with Hurzeler and expressed optimism about the new appointment despite De Zerbi’s departure. Although Dunk admitted that he did not know much about Hurzeler before their meeting, he shared that their conversation had been positive. Hurzeler had observed training sessions at Brighton during De Zerbi’s tenure and had a clear understanding of the team’s strengths and weaknesses. According to Dunk, Hurzeler’s playing style is likely to be possession-based which should complement the existing players at the club well.
Hurzeler has become the youngest permanent Premier League manager at just 31 years old, reflecting football’s evolving landscape with younger players and managers taking charge. Dunk humorously remarked on this fact by saying that it made him feel old but emphasized the need to adapt to new dynamics in the game. Despite his age, Dunk acknowledged that Hurzeler was now leading his team and everyone would follow his lead as they aimed for success under his guidance.
In conclusion, Brighton captain Lewis Dunk is thrilled to have been selected for England’s World Cup squad while also welcoming Fabian Hurzeler as their new manager following Roberto de Zerbi’s departure from the club. The pair had a positive conversation about their future plans and how they could work together to bring success to Brighton in both domestic and international competitions.
