Brighton manager De Zerbi sets challenge for Baleba

Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi has a challenge for his young star Carlos Baleba.

He believes the 19-year-old midfielder must progress quickly if he is to stake a claim for a regular starting spot.

Baleba was a mixed bag in the Albion's 1-0 loss to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup in midweek.

Post-game, De Zerbi said: You are used to watching, I think, only the Premier League games.

But the other European leagues are totally different to the Premier League.

The Premier League is stronger, is tougher and the new players have to adapt to the difficulty during the game.

He is 2004 (year of birth). It was the first game in his life in the first XI in Premier League at Stamford Bridge.

I am pleased with his performance.

Clearly he has to improve, he has to progress. Maybe now he is not so ready to play in the first XI.

We lost Pascal Gross and James Milner and so in that position we are only three midfielders.

But the players have to adapt and the coach has to adapt.

In this moment we are playing a lot of games.

I don't want to make any excuses.

The younger players have to progress quickly."