- The Italian boss is attracting lots of interest from Europe’s top clubs
- Jurgen Klopp praised his sides ‘best performance’ against De Zerbi’s Brighton
- Why Roberto De Zerbi should be in the running to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off podcast
Roberto De Zerbi has warned Brighton they must match his ambition if he is to stay with the Seagulls next season.
De Zerbi’s future is being closely monitored by a number of clubs heading into the summer, with admirers not limited to just Liverpool and Bayern Munich.
The Italian has two years remaining on his contract at the AMEX Stadium and warned that while it is not a foregone conclusion that he will leave in the summer, it is going to come down to how ambitious a plan Brighton owner Tony Bloom lays out in front of him.
‘What’s the target? For what are we playing [for]?’ De Zerbi said, when asked what had given him doubts at the start of this season.
‘I have already spoken with Tony and in the future we will speak about the next plan and the next season and to organise the next season and then we find the solution. We both have to be happy [about the targets] – myself and the club.’
Jurgen Klopp’s side moved to the top of the Premier League after their win over Brighton
The clash has been described as a trial shift for Roberto De Zerbi who has emerged as a front-runner for Jurgen Klopp’s job at Anfield
Danny Welbeck fired the visitors ahead within just two minutes of kick-off
The Italian boss has two years remaining on his contract at the AMEX Stadium
De Zerbi’s future is uncertain amid lots of interest in the Italian boss, including from Liverpool
Klopp hailed his side’s performance as the ‘best ever’ against De Zerbi’s Brighton
He continued: ‘I have another two years of contract and to work next season at Brighton I don’t need to extend another year or another two years. I can stay, I can work at Brighton with an extension, without an extension, nothing changes.
’At the moment we finished the discussion about the contract but not because I decided yet to leave, no no. My focus is on Brighton for this season and the next season – but the next season, before starting that, I would like to speak and to listen to the plan of the team. I think it’s a serious thing.’
De Zerbi is one to watch in the managerial market this summer with vacancies at Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Liverpool already known to be opening up.
While this Anfield audition far from fell flat, even in a 2-1 defeat, Roy Keane was largely dismissive of De Zerbi’s credentials for one of Europe’s top jobs.
‘I’ve got question marks around whether De Zerbi is ready for that next step,’ Keane said.
‘His teams play a lovely brand of football but I have doubts about what’s he won to take a big job.’
Brighton made a dream start at Anfield with Danny Welbeck firing the visitors ahead spectacularly inside the opening 90 seconds.
But Liverpool went on to dominate and they rallied back to victory with goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah.
For Klopp, there was an immense amount of pride at the calmness his players showed following that early set-back.
Mac Allister was awarded Player of the Match against the club Liverpool paid £35million to for him
Mohamed Salah made it 2-1 in the second half to eventually seal the win for the Reds
‘From my point of view it was our best performance against Roberto’s Brighton,’ he said.
‘More possession, better possession, and a really good rhythm in the game. I liked the reaction a lot. The boys were really calm and I liked that a lot.
‘As a unit we have to get through this. We decide if we enjoy it or not. It will be tough and yes it’s sometimes nerve-wracking, heart-rate will be 180 or 200 from time to time but if we all together enjoy this, we have a chance. If we don’t, we still have a chance but it’s much more difficult.
‘It’s a great situation the boys have us in. We are there, up with two other teams, fighting for the biggest prize in English football and we’ll see how it ends up. I decided I will try really hard to enjoy it.’ He added.
