Brighton have endured their fair share of injuries through 2023-24 so far. None, however, has highlighted the difficulties Roberto de Zerbi has faced managing a club dealing for the first time with the increased workload Europa League football brings quite like the potentially season-ending back problem suffered by Kaoru Mitoma.
When Mitoma was initially ruled out of facing Everton, De Zerbi said in his pre-match news conference it was because the Japan winger “suffered something with his back before the Sheffield game”.
Mitoma went on to play 76 minutes against Sheffield United. If Mitoma had a back problem before facing the Blades, would De Zerbi and Albion’s medical team gamble by playing him? And if so, do they bear some culpability for him now being out for two to three months?
That question will probably never be answered. But the fact Mitoma was in action at Bramall Lane when he probably should have been on the bench, substituted much earlier or not involved at all is indicative of the impossible juggling act De Zerbi has been performing.
At Fulham, De Zerbi juggled the other way. There were no risks taken before this week’s trip to Rome. Pascal Gross and Danny Welbeck sat on the bench at Craven Cottage and Lewis Dunk was substituted on the hour mark.
What this campaign has been is a learning curve for Brighton. The club will know if they want to become regulars on the European stage, they need greater squad depth.
The evidence? Mitoma’s injury, Jan Paul van Hecke in midfield, FA Cup elimination and now sacrificing domestic points to concentrate on the Europa League.
De Zerbi’s team selection on Saturday had one eye on Roma. Nobody can blame him for that – the thrashing by Fulham will become an irrelevance if Albion deliver another unforgettable experience at the Stadio Olimpico.
Bring it on.
Scott McCarthy can be found at We Are Brighton, external