Age is just a number, according to Brighton’s Dutch defender Joel Veltman, who explained how 31-year-old manager Fabian Hurzeler is able to get the best out of his Brighton and Hove Albion side.
Hurzeler is the youngest Premier League manager, and some Brighton fans have questioned his ability after the team had gone three months without a home win.
However, on Saturday, they had their backs against the wall and responded with a 2-1 win over Chelsea. It was a welcome victory for their young manager, who saw his side lose 7-0 to Nottingham Forest last week.
Speaking to Telecom Asia after helping the Seagulls progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup, Veltman explained that his manager often speaks with some of the players to gauge what the team thinks and find solutions to their recent problems.
The manager always speaks to some players, and it's mostly to find out the best way to bounce back after a disappointment, obviously with the more experienced players, but also with some young lads. Sometimes the gaffer makes his own decisions, but he wants to feel the situation in the group, and that’s what makes him a really good gaffer. I think he feels it, and he has a sense for what is going on. I get that, and it’s paid off.
Hurzeler has had a mixed start to life as Brighton manager, with impressive wins against the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea, even though defeats to teams like Everton and Forest have raised eyebrows.
