Brighton & Hove Albion put in a strong second-half performance to earn a 1-1 draw against Manchester United at the American Express Stadium, with Nikita Parris scoring the equalizer for the Seagulls. Following the hard-fought draw, Brighton manager Dario Vidošić addressed the media about the game.
Manchester United aimed to disrupt Brighton’s play in the first half, as Marc Skinner’s tactics focused on stifling the Seagulls’ efforts to build from the back. However, after making adjustments and substitutions at halftime, Vidošić’s side gained momentum, shifting the game’s balance in their favor.
Reflecting on the slow start, Vidošić remarked, “Probably in the first 30 minutes, we lacked speed on the ball. We were a bit slow, a bit hesitant, and our spacing wasn’t ideal.”
Discussing the improved second half, Vidošić noted, “We adjusted our pressing, which was off in the first half. It’s something we’ll learn from, and I think we’ll gain confidence from this match, knowing we can compete against the top teams.”
‘Belief made the difference’
Vidošić made three impactful substitutions around halftime, bringing in Madison Haley, Michelle Agyemang, and Maisie Symonds, each contributing to the game’s shift.
Explaining the decision to change up his lineup early, Vidošić said, “Manchester United was playing a bit more man-to-man when the ball was deeper, so we adjusted by bringing the wingers inside.”
“Maddie and Michelle are strong and good at holding up the ball, so we made those changes to give ourselves another option. The key was having belief—we came out aggressive, timely, and very competitive, even dominant in the second half.”
Vidošić commends Brighton’s ‘big progress’
With the international break ahead, the Barclays Women’s Super League pauses for a week and a half as players join their national teams. Brighton have made a solid start to the season, currently sitting in 4th place.
Reflecting on the opening weeks, Vidošić shared, “I think we’ve made significant progress, especially in such a short time. It’s a process, and we’re committed to it.”
Using Lionel Messi as a metaphor, Vidošić emphasized the importance of embracing mistakes for growth. He explained, “I’ve told them that progress takes time, so don’t worry too much about mistakes. I’d rather see them try the right things, even if errors happen—they’re part of the game.”
“I always use Lionel Messi as an example, arguably the best player ever, but he still loses the ball over 30 times in a game. Yet, he’s seen as the greatest. So mistakes are normal—we just need to stay focused on our style of play.”
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