The phrase “De Zerbi ball” has resurfaced on social media after Brighton effortlessly bypassed Newcastle’s press from the kick-off in their Premier League Summer Series encounter.
During the exciting match at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, a late brace from Newcastle’s promising youth player Elliot Anderson canceled out Danny Welbeck’s second-half goal, making it an entertaining affair.
Despite the setback, Eddie Howe’s team, who secured a top-four finish and a spot in the Champions League, continued their impressive pre-season run with a 2-1 victory on Friday night.
Among the notable occurrences in the match, Harvey Barnes made his much-anticipated debut for Newcastle following his £40 million transfer from Leicester. Additionally, young right-back Harrison Ashby earned his first start for the Magpies at the first-team level.
However, it was a 39-second clip demonstrating ‘De Zerbi ball’ that truly caught the attention on social media. Fans and football enthusiasts were excited and impressed by the style of play showcased in the clip.
De Zerbi ball in action from the first whistle 🤩
🇺🇸 #PLSummerSeries
📺 https://t.co/8VoNPCC9ho pic.twitter.com/mxFZO9bqrR— Premier League (@premierleague) July 28, 2023
Here’s how social media reacted to the sequence of play.
One fan said: “The way De Zerbi has coached this group of players is incredible. 100% trust in every player to receive the ball under pressure. One of the best coaches in world football right now.”
A second commented: “I don’t think Pep is joking when he learns from De Zerbi. Absolutely madness possession ball to break the press,” while another wrote: “De Zerbi ball really is a thing of beauty.”
A fourth said: “Look how aggressively Newcastle pressed and Brighton just pass it around like prime Barcelona.”
A fifth added: “People watch this and are still obsessed with ‘big names’ in the window. Just focus on your style of play and make sure the players you bring in have the ability and attitude to implement it.”
Back in May, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola labelled Roberto De Zerbi ‘one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years’.
When asked if he was impressed by the Brighton manager’s performance this season, Guardiola delivered a compliment for the ages.
“Pay attention to what I’m about to say because I’m convinced in what I’m saying that [Roberto De Zerbi] is one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years,” he said. “There is no team that plays the way they play, it’s unique.
“Congratulations to Brighton for this incredible achievement of getting into Europe.
“I had the feeling that when he arrived I had an idea the impact he would have on the Premier League would be great but I couldn’t expect him to do it in such a short time.
“They create on average 20-25 chances per game. They monopolise the ball in a way that hasn’t been seen for a long time. Everybody is involved – the goalkeeper is like a holding midfielder.”
Thoughts on ‘De Zerbi ball’? Can Brighton go one step further and crack the top five this season?
Let us know in the comments.