Fabian Hurzeler wants Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace fans to stay calm when the bitter enemies meet at the Amex Stadium on Sunday – having witnessed the “emotions” of the game in person at Selhurst Park last season.
Hurzeler watched in the away end as the sides draw 1-1 for a fifth consecutive edition at Palace of the fixture almost exactly a year ago, attending on a fact-finding mission during the winter break in the German second-tier season, which ended in the 31-year-old leading St Pauli to promotion as champions.
“Luckily, I visited last season and saw the game at Palace live,” said Hurzeler, who did not know at the time that he would succeed Roberto De Zerbi at Albion during the summer.
“I experienced how the rivalry is and the mood between the two clubs. On top of three points, it’s about the meaning of the game; I know, from the past, that the meaning – especially for the fans – is high, and also for the club.
“Everybody in the building knows the meaning. It’s something special, because you feel the atmosphere before and during the game. You feel that it’s a big rivalry.”
Good vibes ahead of the weekend 🤙😄#CPFC pic.twitter.com/32KBnuPdOx
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) December 12, 2024
Brighton vs Palace rivalry
Tensions have sometimes resulted in crowd trouble when the clubs clash, dating back to a row between then-Brighton manager Alan Mullery and Palace counterpart Terry Venables during the 1970s.
BBC News reported that seven arrests were made when the teams met in February, with an increased police presence in Brighton city centre.
“What I always say is that everything should happen with respect – we don’t need any violence or anything like this,” cautioned Hurzeler, adding that high emotions are a “part of the game” he enjoys as long as they are expressed appropriately.
“That’s the main thing for me. It’s a football game with more emotion than a normal game. You can cheer and support your team but everything should go [on] without any violence.”
Two in two minutes against Crystal Palace last season! 🔥⚡️ #AlbionAdvent 💙🤍 pic.twitter.com/sCXotWAWwb
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) December 13, 2024
Brighton vs Palace: Fans ‘crucial’
Palace have not won the fixture in six attempts, losing twice but taking the lead on three of the four occasions when the game finished 1-1 during that sequence.
The 17th-placed Eagles are in better form than the Seagulls, suffering one defeat in eight games in all competitions, including two wins and two draws away.
Albion are winless in three matches and have developed a habit of spurning leads, with their 2-2 draw at Leicester City on Sunday representing the second time this season that they have failed to win after leading 2-0 in the 85th minute.
“They know when the team suffers a bit,” Hurzeler said of Brighton fans. “They are always our 12th man. I love the support from them and their feeling for the team.
“Their support is crucial and very helpful on the pitch, and it’s very important that they know it. Now it’s up to us to give them the win in the derby.”
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