Brighton boss makes very honest comments on Evan Ferguson that could go either way

"He can play better."

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi made some very honest comments about Ireland striker Evan Ferguson, and the impact of them could go either way. Ferguson has been Brighton's young bright spark since breaking onto the scene last season, and has already made some memorable moments this year, most notably an incredible hat-trick against Newcastle. However, the goals have dried up a little, and even though he is only a teenager, the expectation and pressure is still on him to perform at the highest level.

Brighton boss makes very honest comments on Evan Ferguson that could go either way.

De Zebri has done an amazing job at Brighton so far, so no one can question his decisions as a tactician or a man-manager, but his decision to publicly declare that Ferguson could "play better" is something that could have went either way. "For the young player you can expect a different type of performance," the Brighton manager told the BBC.

"There is a time when they play very well, they score, but in different moments they can suffer [from] the level of competition. "In the last two months Evan suffered, from injury and other things, he can play better.

"The level of Evan is higher than the level he is playing at in this moment, we have to help him but he has to help himself first of all, to understand better the play, "He’s very young, he is like my son and I try everything to help him become a great player for sure."

Evan Ferguson on why he chose Brighton over other Premier League clubs.

Ferguson was swooped up by Brighton after making impressive appearances for Bohemians, lining out for them against Chelsea in a pre-season game when he was just 14. Despite other suitors being interested, the fact that Brighton had other Irish players like Mark O'Mahony, Andrew Moran (out on loan) and Jamie Mullins, made the decision obvious for the young striker.

"When I came over, there were three or four Irish here, and since then, three or four more have come into the place", Ferguson told RTE. "I've played with some of them before, played with Jamie since I was a young kid.  Having a few of the Irish boys around has helped me to settle in. You don't really miss home, because they were your mates from home.

"Also, the feeling that the club gave me when I came over. There's a wall that shows all the players that have come through the academy to play in the first team. "They are not lying to you to try and get you in. There's a pathway here, so that give you a chance to break through earlier." Related links:

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• Brighton laughed at Man United’s bid for Evan Ferguson