Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has revealed that he might have given Brighton's new manager, Fabian Hurzeler, a bit too much advice last season.
Spurs fans might find this confession both amusing and a little worrying as their side faces Brighton this Sunday in a crucial clash.
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Spurs vs. Brighton: A friendly chat turned competitive
During a press conference, Postecoglou laughed as he recalled a moment from last year when Hurzeler, who was coaching St Pauli at the time, visited Spurs to observe a training session. Hurzeler, now Brighton’s youngest-ever manager at 31, was full of questions, and Ange might have been too generous with his answers.
"He coached Jackson Irvine, who I had with the Socceroos, and reached out to us and said, 'Fabian likes what you’re doing, can he come pay a visit?'," Postecoglou explained. "He asked a hell of a lot of questions, and I gave him too many answers, that’s for sure. If I’d have known he’d be Brighton manager… I actually palmed him off at one stage because he was asking too many!"
The Australian coach didn’t hold back on the praise for Hurzeler, admitting, "You could tell he’s a real student of the game. It’s probably a perfect fit for him because Brighton are a fantastic club."
Brighton took a bit of a gamble when they appointed Hurzeler, who had just led St Pauli to promotion in Germany. But with only one loss in their first six games this season, the young coach is already proving his worth. That one loss? A tough 4-2 defeat to Chelsea last week.
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Sunday's showdown: Tottenham’s turn for a redemption arc?
This upcoming match has the makings of a real nail-biter. Spurs fans will remember last season’s horror show against Brighton, where Tottenham found themselves 4-0 down before two late goals gave them a bit of dignity back. Postecoglou, fresh from a dominant performance against Manchester United, will be itching to keep the momentum going, especially with European qualification spots at stake.
But the visit to the Amex Stadium is no easy task. Brighton are no longer just a feel-good underdog story — they’re genuine contenders for European qualification. With Hurzeler soaking up all that Ange wisdom, Spurs may have to watch their backs.
