'He's still not there' - Fabian Hurzeler makes telling Carlos Baleba admission as Jack Hinshelwood stakes midfield claim
Fabian Hurzeler gave an interesting response, when asked where Jack Hinshelwood’s match-winning return to the Brighton team leaves the out-of-form Carlos Baleba.
In a dramatic afternoon at the Amex, Albion came from a goal down to beat Brentford 2-1.
Bart Verbruggen saved an injury-time penalty to seal the victory, after Danny Welbeck and Hinshelwood’s second-half goals.
The winner was scored on the 84th minute by substitute Hinshelwood – who had been out of action for more than two months due to an ankle injury.
The 20-year-old Albion academy graduate’s half volley wasn’t the cleanest of strikes but it was enough to beat Caoimhin Kelleher.
Having started the move with a pass out wide to Minteh – before finding himself in a goalscoring position just moments later – the youngster showed Albion just what they have been missing in his absence.
On the other side of the coin is Baleba who was yet again hooked at half-time, as his torrid season continued. The 21-year-old had given away the first-half penalty with a clumsy and late sliding challenge.
The Cameroon international has been unable to play himself into form, as he struggles to rediscover his brilliant best performances from last season.
So is it time to bring him out of the firing line?
Hurzeler said, post-match: “Regarding Carlos, we know he's still not there, but we want to have him.
"We need to help him, we need to get an understanding for his situation. He's still a very young player, so we have to keep pushing and I'm sure he will get back to his highest level.
"But it's our responsibility to give him the environment where he can improve and it's his responsibility for sure to take ownership for this and to keep pushing.
“And on the other side, when you're behind, you have to think about if you want to make changes in the half-time to change the game.
"Therefore it was not that Carlos played such a bad game that we had to take him off, but in some moments you try to understand the opponent, which profile you need, which profile might change the game for you.
“So I think it's the wrong way now to write in the media that he plays a bad performance. Not at all. But some moments you have to make decisions about how you want to win the game because that's why we're here and therefore you have to make tactical decisions and that was one of these tactical decisions.”
Hinshelwood came on to replace Baleba at half-time and his performance will surely earn him a starting role, if he is fit enough.
Hurzeler said: “Overall it's good to have Jack back, he gives us more options and more availability in a high performance.
“Culture is just crucial because then you have more competition and you can compete against each other in every training session, fighting for your position.”
Hurzeler also commented on Olivier Boscagli, whose Premier League debut ended after 45 minutes. He had a difficult first-half and the yellow card he picked up sealed his fate, with Maxim De Cuyper brought on at half-time.
But Hurzeler said Baleba’s situation also applied to the French defender
“I think they didn't play bad,” he said. “Oli didn't play bad.
"Brentford had one shot on the goal in the first half and it was a penalty – and it was a a penalty out of nowhere.
“So you can't say that he played a bad game.”