‘It’s nice people are talking about us but we need to improve’, says Brighton’s Guro Bergsvand
BRIGHTON being as entertaining as Barcelona would appeal to Albion centre-back Guro Bergsvand.
Certain aspects of the Seagulls’ play have prompted comparisons between their approach and the Catalan giants' playing style.
Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor, whose team beat Barcelona in a Champions League clash ten days ago, talked of both sides being similar in “trying to overload the midfield”.
While Bergsvand, 30, takes that as a compliment, she thinks there is room for improvement for Dario Vidosic’s side who host Man United at the Amex today.
She said: “It’s nice people are talking about us but we need to improve a bit more.
“We want to play entertaining football.
Read More Football Stories
"That’s something that Dario has been saying and we want people to come and watch and enjoy watching us play.
“Barcelona play entertaining football and that’s what we want to do”
While Brighton lost the services of star striker Elisabeth Terland, who sealed a Red Devils free transfer in July, goals have not been too hard to come by.
The permanent additions of trophy-winning forwards Nikita Parris and Fran Kirby and striker Kiko Seike, who won September’s WSL Player of the Month award, have helped boost the team's attack.
Most read in Football
Loan swoops for Arsenal and Barcelona starlets Michelle Agyemang and Bruna Vilamala have also contributed to 12 goals scored in five games in all contests with the team currently fourth.
Underpinning recent results is the defensive graft of Bergsvand, her centre-back pal Maria Thorisdottir and full-backs Poppy Pattinson and Jorelyn Carabali.
Two clean sheets in four league games and three wins have contributed to their best-ever start to a WSL season at this stage.
A stark contrast to the struggles of the past two seasons with Albion at times dragged into scraps for top-flight survival before finishing eleventh and ninth.
Bergsvand, who joined last January, from Norwegian side SK Brann, added: “It’s nicer to win than to lose. Hopefully, we’ll keep this going.
“I’ve enjoyed the season so far but I know that things can change, that’s why it’s so important to be on top of your game and we want to improve.
“This league is so competitive so you need to be on top, if not your rivals are going to beat you.”
Bergsvand and Thorisdottir will need to be at the top of their game when they come face-to-face with their Norway pal and former Albion team-mate Terland.
The ex-Seagulls striker, who has been likened to Erling Haaland by United boss Marc Skinner, visits her old side for the first time in the league since her Manchester move.
And the Red Devils chief has backed Terland to display what he describes as a Terminator-style instinct in front of goal.
Skinner said: "If you look at the way the Terminator would see in the movie, and it is like you're narrowing down the angle.
"That's how I see Lizzie's brain working because she's so ruthless in those moments.”
Bergsvand adds: “She is a good player, a good finisher and as a friend I want her to do well.
“Hopefully she is not scoring his time, let’s just put it like that.
Last term Terland finished as the WSL’s joint second-highest scorer with 13 goals in 22 games
And last Sunday, she scored her first league goals in a Red Devils shirt netting twice against Tottenham.
However, Vidosic, 37, believes his Norwegian defensive duo will be fully prepared for the test.
The Brighton boss, who took charge of the Seagulls in July, said: “I think they’ll be very ready for Terland having played together, and knowing each other from being in the (same) national team.
“We have to be aware that she needs just one chance to score.”
Brighton are winless in their last six games against Man United with their last victory occurring in April 2021.
However, Bergsvand is hopeful she, Thorisdottir and their backline can shut out their visitors today.
She adds: “We’re happy with the three points and the clean sheet (at Crystal Palace last Sunday).
READ MORE SUN STORIES
“But we want to show at the Amex that we’re better than how we performed last weekend.
“It’s going to be a big game, we’re playing a big team and it’s a different opponent. They will give us other challenges.”