"It's something I haven't had for a long time": Jason Steele praises Robert De Zerbi's impact on his Brighton career
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The 32-year-old has stared three Premier League games in a row for Albion, having previously been the understudy to Robert Sanchez, who had played 59 of the previous 60 league games for the Seagulls.
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Hide AdHowever, the ex-Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers shot stopper now finds himself as De Zerbi’s main man in-between the sticks, after the Brighton boss admitted that Steele was more suited to his style of play.
Speaking on his rise to the first-team, Steele said: “He [De Zerbi] didn't really say a lot in terms of myself. I think I understand football and how he wants to operate. Hopefully I can continue doing that.
"I understand what he demands as a goalkeeper. I think I understand his ideas. Not perfectly, I’ve still got loads to improve on that. But I think the football suits my style. But ultimately I’m still a goalkeeper.
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Hide Ad"You are still there to try your best for the team to keep the clean sheet. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't work. Sometimes you have those days. But I think he gives me the ultimate belief in myself and the confidence.”
Since joining Brighton in 2018, Steele had been used as a goalkeeper for the FA Cup and EFL Cup fixtures. Prior to this season, he had made nine first-team appearances, one of which had been in the Premier League.
Following a string of stand-out performers for Albion in the cup competitions this season, including victories over Arsenal (EFL Cup) and Liverpool (FA Cup), the Durham-born boy was given the nod to start in the 4-0 win against West Ham in the Premier League on March 4.
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Hide AdHe has kept two clean sheets in the three league games played so far, the latest coming in Brighton’s 1-0 win over arch rivals Crystal Palace on Wednesday, March 15.
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Steele played a vital role in the M27 derby victory, pulling of a vital one-on-one stop from Palace’s Michael Olise, with the score at 0-0.
The Albion keeper said: “I was always confident in my ability. When you have a boss like we have who gives you that confidence.
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Hide Ad“I can’t describe even describe that feeling. You are going out on that pitch and you have full belief in yourself. It’s something I haven't had for a long, long time.
“I understand the manager's ideas and philosophy. When I've played in the [FA and EFL] Cup I've done okay. All I did was work as hard as I possibly could, day in and day out. So that's the message I would send to anyone."
Steele was also complimentary of his goalkeeping competition and team-mate Sanchez. He said: “Rob’s fantastic. He is a hell of a guy.
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Hide Ad"He’s been really supportive but obviously he is working as hard as he can to get back into the team. But that’s top-level football. We are all fighting to get in the team and that’s what we have to do.
“I think I can only control what I can control. That’s my ability to train as hard as I can every day and to keep learning and to keep improving.”