Leicester v Brighton: Here's what Chris Hughton said in his pre-match press conference

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton spoke to the press this morning ahead of the Seagulls' Premier League match at Leicester City tomorrow evening. Here's what he said...
Chris Hughton. Picture by PW Sporting PhotographyChris Hughton. Picture by PW Sporting Photography
Chris Hughton. Picture by PW Sporting Photography

What did you make of what you saw at Wembley yesterday (the incident between Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and manager Mauricio Sarri)?

"What I made of it was exactly what this game is.

"It's an emotional game and probably the only shame for me is that has been the focus of a lot of attention and I thought Chelsea were very good, particularly in a period of time where they were on the back of a big defeat at City and everybody was going to be looking at it.

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"I thought they played really well. It was a shame that particular incident has taken away a fair amount from that.

"But it's an emotional game. When you ask anybody how they would react in those circumstances, the answer is you don't know.

"That's what the game is about. It's about things that happen, the time things happen and how you could deal with things a little bit better.

"It just shows the emotion in our game."

How would you have dealt with it?

"I don't know. I certainly would have known afterwards because we're always in a position where we have to make decisions with things we're not sure about.

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"It has been said by goalkeeper and manager that it's something that perhaps could have been dealt with a little bit better but that's the nature of our game.

"You have to make these decisions at the time. The only shame for me is it has probably over-rided what I thought was a very good tactical game and a very good Chelsea performance."

Any moments like that in your career as manager?

"Not so much confrontations but lots of occasions where you think somebody can't carry on and your thinking is to bring them off, they're signalling over that they're okay and to give them a few minutes.

"You have lots of them decisions. Maybe not to the extent of what we saw yesterday which for most managers would be unusual.

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"There wouldn't be any manager around who wouldn't have gone through circumstances where you're not sure if somebody is able to carry on and of course what happens is normally it's an outfield player and in that period of time you're losing valuable time in the game.

"If somebody is limping around for three or four minutes, it's a situation where in that period of time you could lose out.

"Everybody would have been through that and everybody handles situations differently."

How have you utilised the time off since your last game?

"We took the team away for some warm weather training for four days, which I'm hoping has been very beneficial to us.

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"It changed the environment, we've got a wonderful facility here but a change of environment helps.

"It gives everybody that little bit of a lift and more importantly, it's allowed us to get on with some really good training in that period of time where we didn't have a game on Saturday."

It's Leicester next and they've just sacked Claude Puel. What's your reaction to that?

"Very disappointed of course. Any time a manager goes, whether it's a Premier League manager or any manager throughout the leagues it's always very disappointing and it shows how difficult this job is.

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"In one period where they are doing very well and picking up great results against the big teams and then things change.

"We've got to the stage now in our game where there aren't so many surprises.

"But you always feel for the manager because there is no doubt the hard work he would have put in to get the team to where they are.

"Very disappointing news but in this day and age, it's not a surprise."

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Leicester have lost six of their last seven in all competitions, what kind of performance are you expecting from them? We've seen it with Manchester United that a manager goes and suddenly a team is transformed...Could we see a similar situation at Leicester?

"We don't know. What they are is a very good team. If we're talking about a manager going on the back of a result, it was a very good performance.

"They are not a team that deserved to lose 4-1 against Crystal Palace. Palace are very good at what they do and are a very good side but I thought Leicester were good.

"They perhaps didn't have the amount of clear chances that their possession warranted but I didn't see so much wrong with the team. They have a lot of ability, some very good individuals, so how it will affect the team and the group, I don't know.

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"We have to concentrate on the things we feel can get us a result and at this moment, we need to start picking up some points."

What's the team news?

"It's not been the best of times. At this moment, Leon Balogun would be the only one who is definitely not available.

"We've had Glenn introduced to training the last day, Lewis Dunk as well and Izquierdo is back training now.

"At this moment, we've got some decisions to make and we need to clear some individuals. We're certainly in a better position than what we were a week ago."

Solly March?

"Solly's fine and has trained for the last few days."

Jurgen Locadia?

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"He has trained only yesterday and is one of the ones we'll have to make a decision on. As regards training we're in good shape at the moment but it's just about the training days and making them final decisions today."

How big is the decision to return players to the matchday squad? We saw it with Jesse Lingard yesterday perhaps being rushed back a little bit sooner than liked and ends up coming off...

"They're always big decisions. Ultimately it's about trying to get a performance and trying to pick the right team which is going to get you a result.

"You would like to think anybody and I imagine it would have been exactly the same with Jesse yesterday, is that every player that either plays or comes on as a sub has got to a level in their rehab that enables them to do that.

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"I wouldn't have thought even with Lingard yesterday that they felt it was a risk. But sometimes it just doesn't work out that way.

"You always have to make these decisions whether you need another couple of days for a player. But generally every player that plays or comes on has been passed fit to play."

Are you concerned with the fixture list with so many midweek games coming up because of the FA Cup run?

"You have to be concerned but that's our job and the level of club we are.

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"We've gone from three Premier League games ago to being what some or most people would have perceived as a good position in the league, some seven points clear of the relegation zone, to having three disappointing results.

"Not so much performances but results and we are where we are now.

"This is what the facts are. We need to start picking up points in whichever way we can do that.

"The fact we are still in the cup I do think is a plus for us, as a club and for the momentum of the team.

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"We need to start picking up some Premier League points and Tuesday night at Leicester gives us the first opportunity and then we go into a very big game at home to Huddersfield on Saturday."

Do you need your players to show their character?

"Yes we do. We are not going to go through a Premier League season without having difficult periods.

"Up until now I think we've done okay. It's a difficult period but we're not on the back of such bad performances but certainly bad results and it's a period where we haven't picked up points.

"But I think that's normal. It's normal in any season we are going to have. When you have that period, you have to show character to come through that.

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"Ultimately it's about winning enough games. The teams that don't win enough games will find it very difficult.

"The emphasis doesn't really change whether it's now, the start of the season, the end of the season.

"But we need to start putting in performances that are going to win us games and get us points."

What work do you do to make sure the players are mentally ready?

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"We have got a group where it's not about such bad performances.

"We have conceded three goals at home against Burnley and we conceded four away to Fulham, which is probably not like us, particularly the Fulham one.

"We've had a few things go against us as regards refereeing decisions and so but that happens. You have to accept it.

"The advantage we have at this moment is I haven't got a changing room where it's doom and gloom and wondering where the next points are coming from.

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"I've got a changing room that knows probably our performances have warranted more than what we have got. But sometimes that's not the case.

"It's very much about doing the things we do well and eradicating the things we haven't been doing so well. Certainly in the last few games, that's been about conceding goals."

How do you picture the bottom half of the table. Do you think Fulham and Huddersfield have left themselves with too much to do?

"I don't think you can afford to see it that way. Huddersfield had a very good run towards the end of last season which got them out of the situation they were in in that bottom three.

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"I don't think you can afford to think about the other teams. Part of our job is very much is to see the table and the results around and when results go for you it gives you that little bit of a lift.

"When they don't, it's that little bit harder.

"It's about the results we can get. If we get good enough results then we don't have to worry so much about the teams around us.

"But the league is the league. If you look at the teams around us, we're all there for a particular reason.

"It will be the teams that show more, whatever that is - scoring goals, not conceding, getting that little bit of luck - that will just push you away from that group."

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Does Claude Puel's sacking remind you how fortunate you are to work for a patient owner?

"It makes you grateful for the job you're in and the club I'm at but this is a results business.

"I know some managers that might not have been be the case as regards results and maybe other factors.

"Its a very volatile business and it has been for quite some time. I don't see that changing.

"That's why when somebody goes it's not a huge surprise.

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"Whether we think it's right or not, generally it's not such a big surprise.

"It's about getting results and what you want is patient owners. But the dynamics have changed and the ownerships of clubs has hugely affected the status of the Premier League and managers as a whole.

"It's the business we are in and you have to work as hard as you can to stay in there."

Do you think a local owner who knows his fanbase will be more patient that an overseas owner?

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"I don't know. I can only speak for my time here and I work for a very enthusiastic owner that was born and bred in the area and this is his club, hence why he's invested so much.

"He's not only invested but grown the club to where we are now. That I'm very grateful for.

"But I'm always very conscious that I have to do well and the team have to do well for us to maintain where we are at the moment.

"That's here, I can't speak for other clubs and the mentality of other clubs.

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"I'm very conscious that it's a results business and if you do well enough, you have a great chance of staying in your job."

Anthony Knockaert hasn't started a league game for a couple of months but scored in the FA Cup. Could he make an impact from the start in the Premier League?

"We have a competitive squad at the moment and sometimes it's down to the players that are available.

"We are in better shape at this moment than perhaps we were a week ago and he comes into contention, the same as all.

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"I was really pleased for him last week, not only with his performance as I thought he played very well but also a very well-taken goal.

"There's a lot of decision to make. These are all very big games for us and he hasn't done himself any harm."

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