Glenn Murray hails Brighton's electric start to the season

The club legend has been left impressed with the manager, who is the youngest in Premier League history.

The Seagulls have flown out of the traps this season and are currently trying to lay claim to a top-four spot in the league.

Murray, 41, admitted that Albion had benefited from underperforming sides such as Tottenham, Manchester United, and Manchester City.

Glenn Murray has been impressed with new manager Fabian Hurzeler (Image: Simon Dack) But the retired striker, now pundit, believes Hurzeler has improved as the season has gone on to help the club take advantage after others have slipped up.

He told The Argus: “I suppose it's been an exceptional start to the season. I think at points we've ridden our luck.

“I think what Fabian Hurzeler's done is fantastic.

“I think everyone's starting to get to know what he wants from them more and more.

“I think early on in the games, sort of the opening games, I think we were kind of wide open in the first 15 minutes kind of thing. But we kind of get into grips with that.

“You've got to take everything into consideration. The big hitters aren't quite performing as they would usually.

“We've done exceptionally well. It's been a brilliant start.

“I think the biggest compliment you can give to Fabian is that, obviously, being the youngest Premier League manager ever, if there was a slight inkling that it wasn't up to the job or the team were not performing, that would be the first thing thrown at him.

“And for no one to mention that when you're approaching Christmas, I think he's done exceptionally well to put that to bed.”

On the appointment of Hurzeler in the summer, Murray has been left impressed with the foundation Albion has laid down for managers to come in and do their best work.

He added: “It was a very Brighton appointment.

“They don't usually go down that narrative of a known manager necessarily.

“They prefer to find an unknown and give him the kind of moment to shine in. I think they believe in all their staff.

“I don't think any decisions are made lightly. So, a lot of people will have been in the frame for it, but they felt Fabian was the best man for the job.

“I think it's also important to credit the football club with former managers in Graham [Potter] and Roberto [De Zerbi].

“They give managers a perfect foundation to actually go and do their work and concentrate on the football.

“I think that there's a lot of football clubs out there where there seems to be a whole host of internal politics.

“And that can sometimes take away from the manager's time on the field when he's managing upwards and not football-related things.

“So I think Brighton have a brilliant foundation for managers to come in and concentrate on what they want to concentrate on and what they enjoy doing, which is the football, which is the on-the-field stuff.

“A tip of the cap to the likes of David Weir and Paul Barber and obviously Tony Bloom.”

Murray also revealed that Hurzeler had been a great influence at the club with his approachable demeanour and his behaviour towards everyone at the club.

He said: “But as for Fabian, I feel as though he's been really well-received, really impressed with him.

“I think just his mannerisms and his demeanour in and around the place, the way he treats, whether it is star centre-forward or the kit man or the chef in the kitchen.

“He's very personable with everyone. He knows each person individually and takes the time to get to know them.

“I think there's moments at football clubs where you run out of time for people sometimes.

“As a manager, you're pulled from pillar to post and you might not know everyone's name and you learn people's names and your staff at different levels.

“That's the kind of thing where Fabian's really gone out there and he's made a real effort to get to know everybody. I like that holistic side to him.

“It makes him very approachable, and obviously, we can see how well the players have accepted him and understand what he wants from them due to our position in the table.”

Hurzeler will next take charge of Albion in Thursday night's Premier League clash against Fulham.

A win could see the club stay in the top four depending on results elsewhere in the league.

Glenn Murray is working as a pundit for Prime’s coverage of Fulham vs. Brighton on December 5. Prime members can watch festive football on Prime Video at no extra cost, including 20 Premier League matches such as Arsenal v Manchester United and every Boxing Day match – as well as a top UEFA Champions League clash on December 10th.