Roberto De Zerbi urges Brighton to embrace FA Cup semi-final pressure

Brighton the boss Roberto De Derby urged his players to “love” the pressure in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. Manchester United.

Albion are bidding to reach the final of the competition for only the second time in their history since losing 4-0 to United 40 years ago.

De Zerbi wants his side to take advantage of the occasion on Sunday and pursue an attractive style of play as the Seagulls battle for European qualification in Prime Minister League.

“If we want to progress, if we want to improve our mentality, we have to play naturally,” said the Italian.

“We should not tolerate pressure, or maybe it’s better that we love this pressure.

“We have to get used to feeling that pressure, because playing a game like this should be an honor, not a problem.

“I would like to start the game with a positive head, a positive idea and enjoy myself. To show our quality, we must try to enjoy.”

De Derby’s only previous visit to the national stadium was as a spectator.

The ex-teacher of Shakhtyor Donetsk will be there for the first time in the dugout after his team’s victories over Middlesbrough, Liverpool, Stoke and Grimsby.

Albion beat United 2-1 at Old Trafford earlier this season under Graeme Potter and have been tipped by some bookmakers as favorites to win.

“If you want to improve, if you want to get better and bigger, you have to play this kind of game,” De Zerbi said.

“We are talking about two or three months League of Europe (qualification) and talking is easier than playing.

“But we have to try to fight to win the trophy to become bigger.

“There will be a lot of our fans, a great stadium, a great atmosphere.

“We can win the game, maybe we can lose, but definitely we can compete. We can compete with them in one game.”

Erik ten Hag’s side head to north London on the back of a humiliating Europa League quarter-final exit against Sevilla.

United, the 12-time FA Cup winners, blew a two-goal lead in the two-leg tie to lose 5-2 on aggregate after a 3-0 defeat in Spain on Thursday night.

De Derby is unsure whether Albion’s opponents will suffer a hangover from that deflationary experience, but is focused on his side as they look to secure a return to Wembley against Manchester City or Sheffield United.

“For sure, Sevilla played a great, great game,” he said. “Sevilla, like United, is a big team in Europe.

“I think the best solution is to focus on ourselves, what we can do and what we have to do to win the game, respecting the opponent.

“Man United are one of the best teams in Great Britain, but I think we deserve to play a game like this in this competition.”

De Derby will make late injury calls ahead of the semi-finals.

Striker Evan Ferguson and defender Joel Weltman limped off in last weekend’s 2-1 defeat by Chelsea.

“The situation with the injuries is still unclear,” said De Zerbi. “We’ll see tomorrow morning.

“We still have two days, so there is time to understand the situation and analyze our situation.”