Pervis Estupinan, who suffered an injury in Brighton’s six-goal thumping of Aston Villa, is expected to be out for roughly a month, according to Roberto De Zerbi.
‘He’s hurt and won’t be able to play for a long time,’ De Zerbi stated before of Thursday’s Europa League match in Marseille. ‘Approximately one month. I’m not sure when the ideal time is, but it’s a muscular injury that won’t heal in a game or two.
‘Unfortunately, we are losing an important player, but we can fill that position with Tariq Lamptey, Igor Julio, or others. We must be prepared for them.’
De Zerbi refused to blame Estupinan’s injury on the hectic timetable of Brighton’s maiden European campaign, but conceded the club was still adjusting to new demands.
‘We’re not used to playing so many games in a row in the same week, and we have to adapt,’ said Brighton manager Chris Hughton. ‘In order to adjust, we must change numerous players game by game. The defeats against West Ham and Aston Villa were not due to a change in personnel. I have faith in my players and my team. We have adequate resources to fight more effectively.’
Brighton were defeated 6-1 at Villa Park on Saturday, and De Zerbi hopes the shock result will serve as a springboard for the rest of the season.
‘I believe the Villa game will be crucial for us,’ he remarked. ‘I know very well the caliber within my dressing room and think we will react in the best way.
‘I don’t speak about the result but the attitude and the enthusiasm we will display from now until the end of the season will be absolutely different. Mistakes happen, but it is important to remember that today might be a pivotal day for us.’
Marseille’s new manager is Gennaro Gattuso, an old rival from Italian football. When they were in charge of Foggia and Pisa in a play to reach Serie B in 2016, they were involved in an infamous clash.
‘I’m looking forward to facing Gattuso,’ De Zerbi remarked. ‘Our paths have been extremely similar. We began managing overseas and in the third division together. I have a lot of admiration for him. I wouldn’t call him a friend, but I respect him and his team. Even if we have to compete tomorrow and struggle a little, we will do so with dignity.’
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