Roberto De Zerbi in agreement with Erik ten Hag over Man Utd style of play claims

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi has backed up Erik ten Hag's claim that an uncompromising style is only possible under certain circumstances. The Seagulls have grabbed plenty of attention with their performances and results over the last 18 months or more.

The Seagulls impressed under Graham Potter, but they have gone from strength to strength under his successor, De Zerbi, securing qualification to the Europa League last season, and they are once again in and around the European spots this season.

De Zerbi's style of play has seen him attract plenty of praise, but he claims he is fortunate to be able to play an uncompromising style because of the size of the club he manages.

"We will never change," he said. "And you know why? It is because we are not a big team. A big team can think only of the result, can focus only on the result because in 90 minutes they can find the right moment to score or to defend well.

"We have young players. I am a young coach and our style and spirit have been crucial. It is maybe the most important secret to compete in our style: to attack and defend with 11 players."

Those comments are interesting because struggling United boss Ten Hag was recently asked why he cannot install the entertaining style of football he installed at Ajax at Old Trafford. He responded by saying: "We will never play that football. Because those were different players. This is also not why I came here. We are playing different football than I showed at Ajax because I have to, because I can't play the same way.  "The players decide how you play. Ajax has a very typical and characteristic style of play, with Manchester United I will always show different football, I did so last year as well. We play much more direct football here because I have the players for that here."

Some fans disagreed with those statements from the Dutchman, but it seems De Zerbi is with Ten Hag when it comes to installing a specific style of football.