Manchester United are “one of the best teams in the UK” despite their loss to Sevilla, according to Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi whose Brighton side take on the Reds in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final.
United travel to Wembley on the back of a disappointing 3-0 Europa League defeat in Spain, ending their hopes of a cup treble this season. They will look to bounce back by defeating Brighton to reach the final of the FA Cup for the first time since 2018.
Speaking ahead of the clash De Zerbi played down suggestions that Erik ten Hag’s side could let the Sevilla loss affect their performance this weekend and insisted he was instead concentrating on what his side can do.
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“For sure Sevilla played a great, great game,” he said. “And Sevilla, like United, is a big team in Europe.
“I think the best solution is to be focused in ourselves, what we can do and what we have to do win the game, respecting the opponent. Man United is one of the best teams in the UK but I think we are deserving to play this type of game in this competition.”
Joel Veltman and Evan Ferguson - who is being tentatively linked with a United switch - are doubts for the game having picked up injuries in last weekend’s 2-1 win over Chelsea. De Zerbi said their availability would be determined on Saturday.
He explained: “The injury situation is not clear yet. We will see tomorrow morning. We have another two days, so we have time to understand the situation and analyse our situation.”
De Zerbi declared his side will be able to “compete” with United as Brighton look to play in their first FA Cup final since losing a 4-0 replay to the Reds in 1983.
“If we want to progress, if want to improve our mentality, we have to play natural,” the Italian continued. “We have not to suffer pressure or maybe it’s better we have to love this pressure.
“We have to get used to feeling this pressure because to play this type of game has to be an honour, not a problem. I would like to start the game with the positive head, the positive idea and to enjoy. To show our quality we have to try to enjoy.”
He added: “We are able to win the game, maybe we can lose, but for sure we can compete. We are able to compete with them in one game.”
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