It was Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi, not Ansu Fati, who felt the most pressure when the Seagulls staged a coup by securing a loan deal for the Barcelona forward.
De Zerbi explained: “If you work with this talent you have a great responsibility because it is our footballing heritage and we cannot go wrong with these players because football needs this talent.
and we have to deal with it in different ways.
”
Fati broke about 20 club records when he entered the Barcelona first team at the age of 16.
However, successive injuries pushed him higher in Catalonia, helping Brighton to win.
For his part, De Zerbi is very excited.
“Especially for great talents, I feel a responsibility to help these talents become great players,” the Italian said.
Here’s how Brighton can arrange to get the most out of Fati.
Fati alternates with Kaoru Mitoma
Fati’s natural position is on the left, right-footed for a deadly shot – the teen has scored 12 of the first 20 shots on target of his senior career.
However, the left wing is the landing that Kaoru Mitoma has had on the south coast for the past 9 months.
Since Christmas Day, Mitoma has started 25 of Brighton’s 27 Premier League appearances, all but one on the left flank.
The light-footed striker has not scored in any of his last 12 appearances for Brighton – perhaps some Premier League defenders have read his dribbling evidence – but Mitoma has started the campaign with full force.
Fati certainly won’t let Mitoma sit on the bench for a long time but he will give De Zerbi a chance to give the Japan international a break.
Potential lineup
Mars-Ferguson-Fati (4-2-3-1)
March – Welbeck – Fati (4-2-3-1)
Fati up front
Less than 10% of Fati’s career appearances with Barcelona have been in the forward position, but De Zerbi has hardly hesitated to train a player to his needs.
Fati’s greatest strength lies in his ability to score goals.
Despite the limited minutes played due to injury, Fati averaged 152 minutes a goal during his Barcelona career.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72601866/1650230603.0.jpg)
Fati’s father, Bori, who advocated leaving Barcelona long before his son cared, praised Ansu’s current condition.
Bori Fati explains: “He is even faster and more explosive than before.
“When Fati is confident, he walks faster.
He’s as strong as a bull.
The underweight striker may be 5’10 tall but will rely on speed rather than strength against physical Premier League centre-backs.
Potential lineups
March – Fati – Mitoma (4-3-3)
March – Pedro – Mitoma; Fati (4-2-3-1)
Fati behind the striker
Brighton are unlikely to turn down the chance to sign such a promising player, but Fati’s arrival from good to necessary after Julio Enciso suffered a knee injury in August.
The Paraguayan striker is unlikely to be.
back before December and have only just begun to find their way into De Zerbi’s squad.
The Italian has almost stuck to his familiar 4-2-3-1 system and can fit Fati into the No 10 role Enciso has taken on.
Evan Ferguson and Danny Welbeck provide more natural centre-forward options for Fati to pass the ball around, while Brighton record-breaking Joao Pedro can also play in midfield.
.
Potential lineups
March – Fati – Mitoma; Ferguson (4-2-3-1)
March – Fati – Mitoma; Welbeck (4-2-3-1)
