Albion will be told to play with courage on a “crucial” European night and beyond.

Roberto De Zerbi felt that quality was missing as they were outclassed in the first half at Manchester City.

But he takes a lot from their efforts in the second period of a 2-1 defeat.

De Zerbi rates City the best team in the world when they are firing as in the opening 45 minutes.

But he said: “I work for Brighton and I have to be focussing on my team and I think in the first half we can play better.

“We didn’t change anything at half-time. We pressed better, stronger in the second half.

“The first half was like we were afraid, like, ‘If I go to press, if I lose the opponent’. No, no. If we prepare to press, we have to press.

“If we have to stay man-to-man, we go man-to-man stronger than in the first half.

“In the second half, I think we played with more courage.”

Albion, who lost Solly March and Danny Welbeck to injury, now prepare to face Ajax on Thursday as they aim for the first win of their Europa League campaign.

March was stretchered off in the closing stages with a knee injury after appearing to twist awkwardly.