Hurzeler says patience is key as Brighton’s Nigerian players await opportunities

Fabian Hurzeler has said there is “no big issue” with Femi Azeez and Zadok Yohanna receiving limited opportunities at Brighton & Hove Albion, explaining that the players are still adapting to the club’s intensity and tactical demands.

The Brighton head coach said some players require more time than others to understand the physical requirements and playing philosophy of the Premier League side. He added that the club’s priority was to provide the right environment for them to develop rather than rush their involvement.

“No big issue. I think we had the topic last press conference, where some players need more time to adapt to the intensity,” Hurzeler said.

The German manager’s comments come amid questions about the lack of game time for the two Nigerian players. Brighton continue to monitor their progress in training, with Hurzeler stressing that their situation is one of adaptation rather than a serious concern.

He said the coaching staff were working to help the players become familiar with the demands of the team and the way Brighton want to play.

“We try to give them the environment where they can adapt to our demands, to how we want to play,” he said.

Hurzeler acknowledged that the adjustment process does not take the same amount of time for every player. In his view, those who need longer should be allowed to develop at the appropriate pace before being introduced to competitive action.

“These kinds of players, they might need a little bit longer, but overall there’s not a big issue,” he explained.

The manager said the key factor was how quickly the players could adapt to Brighton’s approach, rather than any intervention being required because of a particular problem.

“It’s just a thing of adapting, and let’s see how fast he will adapt,” Hurzeler added.

Despite their limited involvement so far, he expressed confidence that opportunities would come once the necessary adjustments had been made.

“I’m sure that he will make his first minutes for us quite soon,” he said.

Hurzeler referred to one player in the singular in that final remark, but his wider explanation applied to the broader process facing Brighton’s developing players. He maintained that patience was important as Azeez and Yohanna work to meet the club’s physical, tactical and stylistic expectations.

The coach’s message was that their prospects would depend largely on the speed of their adaptation to Brighton’s system, with playing opportunities expected to follow when they are ready.