Latest news with #Ayari
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ayari's blunt words as Swedish interview pursues transfer theme
Yasin Ayari signed off at home in style against Liverpool (Image: Simon Dack) Yasin Ayari has told Swedish fans he is at 'a fantastic club' – especially for young players. But the Albion midfielder appears to have been on the receiving end of a specific line of questioning as he spoke while on international duty. Advertisement And it is one which is not uncommon at this time of year. Basically, when are you going to get a move to a more famous club? Ayari scored for Sweden as they won 2-0 over Hungary in Budapest. During the international camp, he was interviewed by Fotbollskanalen. And the TV company's own report of the chat highlighted one subject – will he leave Albion? Albion in Europe? Forest add new twist with letter to UEFA - report The two-word answer from Verona chief on star's expected Albion move Asked about his season, Ayari said: 'Good. As I always said, Brighton is a fantastic club. I really enjoy it there. It's been going well.' Advertisement And then came the persistent questions about a move. He replied: 'Right now I feel happy where I am. But you never know in the future. 'I always want to play in the best clubs and fight for the biggest trophies. We'll see what happens.' Asked whether there was 'interest' – that ambiguous, multi-purpose word which you see a lot in transfer windows – in him, Ayari answered: 'I don't know anything right now. My focus is where I am right now.' Asked about that lack of knowledge, he said: 'I don't like that. Let the agents handle that. I focus on mine.' Ayari continues goalscoring run with impressive finish for Sweden Advertisement It seems he was then asked his gut feeling about his future and said: 'Gut feeling doesn't tell me anything.' And then, regarding his future and what he wants to happen in the summer transfer window, he said: 'You always want to challenge yourself. But I'm safe where I am now and then we'll see what happens.' Then came an enquiry as to what his agent had told him, to which Ayari replied: 'As I said, I am safe where I am. 'I have done well. I feel good in the position I am in. But you never know what will happen.' Ayari emerged as one of the success stories of the season under Fabian Hurzeler. Advertisement He appeared to take some time to win many fans over but Hurzeler's consistent trust in him spoke volumes. The process of convincing more of the support might have been helped had he taken one of the occasional goalscoring chances which came his way. A late equaliser at Crystal Palace, for example, when he failed to get full contact on an effort which Dean Henderson blocked, would have worked wonders. Ayari delighted fans with his stunning goal against West Ham but the follow-up was disappointing when he came off the bench against Newcastle. In terms of home game, though his part in the win over Liverpool was a great way to sign off. Advertisement Ayari's name boomed out from the stands as he was substituted towards the end of that epic. Now, speaking in Sweden, he said: 'It's a fantastic club, especially for us young people who come there, who may be taking their first step abroad. 'They are very good at taking care of us and making us feel safe. 'You can go out and do what you are good at.'
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Albion heading for a Europa party as Bissouma helps Spurs to glory
Albion will be guests at a Europa League party when they visit Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. The Seagulls head to north London to complete their Premier League season needing a point to secure eighth place. That would be the second best league placing in their history and could yet mean a Conference League place. My best season yet, says Ayari - as he adds goals to his game Former Albion midfielder Yves Bissouma played the full 90 minutes as Spurs beat Manchester United 1-0 in Bilbao. They did so having 27% possession, 115 accurate passes and three shots. But Bissouma was part of a rare clean sheet for Tottenham. Boscagli ready to get in gear with Brighton after winning Dutch title Why this was the right time to give teen Howell his debut They edged this tense all-English final, with Brennan Johnson's goal, thanks in no small part to a touch from Luke Shaw, Micky van de Ven goal-line clearance and Guglielmo Vicario's stoppage-time save seeing them win a first trophy since the Carling Cup in 2008. Beaming boss Ange Postecoglou silenced the critics – temporarily at least – as he stuck to his word by winning a trophy in his second season, while United will now spend a first campaign without European football since 2014-15. Ruben Amorim's already tough rebuild becomes that much harder without Champions League qualification after the Red Devils lost a first Europa League match of the campaign at the worst possible time. It compounds their worst top-flight season since suffering relegation 51 years ago.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
My best season yet, says Ayari - as he adds goals to his game
Yasin Ayari says he is enjoying his best season in professional football. And he is delighted to be embellishing it with goals. The Sweden midfielder has had a few near misses – and saw an effort ruled out for a marginal offside back on the first day at Everton. But he made the big breakthrough with a superb curler against West Ham recently and added a very well-taken finish against Liverpool. His named boomed out around the stands at the Amex after that magic moment and again when he was substituted going into the closing stages. It has been quite an inspirational story – from an up-and-down loan season in the Championship to regular action in the Premier League. And, now, to a goal-scoring role for a team who have an impressive array of potential marksmen. Ayari said: 'I knew that as soon as I got my minutes, as soon as I got my rhythm going, I know that I will perform. 'So it was just a matter of time that I will get the minutes and the game time. 'This season has been my best season in professional football. 'I just came from Sweden and had a difficult season last year but this season is much better.' BRIGHTON REACH AGREEMENT WITH PSV DEFENDER When Albion signed Diego Gomez in mid-season, it increased competition in Ayari's area of the pitch. But, when Hurzeler spoke about the Paraguayan's knack of looking forward and trying to attack, it perhaps gave insight as to why he had shown such faith in Ayari. That eagerness to play the forward pass or to get into the penalty area are trademarks of Ayari's. He made a great run beyond Danny Welbeck for his goal against the champions. Ayari added: 'Like I said in interviews before I scored my first goal, I've always known how to score goals, I know I have an eye for goal. 'I just need to come in those positions and, yes, I did it today and I'm happy to score my goal. 'We train a lot on that one, on the counter-movements for me to run in the pocket. 'I think this goal today was much more difficult than the other one I scored against West Ham so it was nice to see the ball go in.' Albion went behind and made an uncertain start but had drawn level and done enough to deserve at least parity by half-time. REASONS GIVEN FOR JOAO PEDRO AND MAC ALLISTER ABSENCE Then they were hit by a sucker punch as they switched off in the one added minute. Ayari said: 'It was a disappointed feeling because we had just conceded like one minute before half-time so we were disappointed of course but we knew we had created a lot and we knew where to hurt them. 'So we said we needed to go out and keep doing what we had been doing and just some bits but overall I think we did it.' Ayari ranks ninth among the Albion squad for playing minutes in the Premier League this season and is on to 21 starts. I think Arne Slot refers in this to the little pass Ayari played to Baleba ahead of the Mitoma goal. He has added goals now but that sort of work in tight areas is something else Ayari can do well. I'll have a piece with him in print and online first thing tomorrow. #bhafc — Brian Owen (@Brian__Owen) May 20, 2025 What a start can often mean, of course, is that you do not finish the game. Half the outfield line-up tends to be changed during the game and that does not tend to include a substitution at centre-back unless there is a pressing reason. So Ayari found himself having to watch the tense final stage as Liverpool were beaten. He said: 'I hate watching games from the sideline, I hate it. 'It was hectic minutes but in the end Jack (Hinshelwood) managed to get the goal to win us the game so I was happy.' Asked whether he was checking the permutations which could yet lift Albion into Europe, Ayari gave a clear 'No'. But he will be happy to cap his best season yet in fitting style at Tottenham.
The Independent
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Graham Potter's problems grow as former club Brighton break West Ham hearts
Carlos Baleba struck a stunning added-time winner as Brighton reignited their European push by piling more misery on former manager Graham Potter with a dramatic 3-2 Premier League victory over West Ham. Potter, who left Albion to join Chelsea in 2022, was on course to have the last laugh at the Amex Stadium after second-half goals from Mohammed Kudus and Tomas Soucek turned the contest in the Hammers' favour following Yasin Ayari's eye-catching opener. But substitute Kaoru Mitoma headed the Seagulls level a minute from time before Baleba sensationally curled home from distance two minutes beyond the 90. The last-gasp victory for Fabian Hurzeler's ninth-placed hosts ended a five-match winless run in the top flight, while West Ham's dismal run extended to a seventh game without success. Potter, who left the pitch to jeers from home fans, has now taken just 13 points from 14 games since replacing Julen Lopetegui as Hammers boss in January. Hammers striker Niclas Fullkrug was dropped to the bench following his public outburst after last weekend's 1-1 draw with relegated Southampton, while Brighton handed Solly March a first start since October 2023 and recalled Ayari as part of their three changes. Potter's only previous return to Albion ended in humiliation when his Chelsea side were thrashed 4-1 in October 2022. His current side fell behind inside 13 minutes following a moment of magic from midfielder Ayari. The Sweden international collected the ball from Jack Hinshelwood around 25 yards out and, with West Ham's defence slow to close down, duly dispatched his maiden Albion goal into the top right corner. Chants of 'Potter, Potter, what's the score?' quickly rang around the ground, while the away end added to their manager's problems by singing in support of Germany international Fullkrug. Having created little, West Ham almost levelled in the 32nd minute when Soucek's looping header from Maximilian Kilman's cross was touched on to the crossbar by Albion goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. Brighton winger Simon Adingra then finished on the rebound at the other end but team-mate Mats Wieffer, who had just been denied by Hammers keeper Alphonse Areola, was fractionally offside. With the bottom three of Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton heading for the Sky Bet Championship, 17th-placed West Ham are in danger of finishing as the worst of the rest. Fullkrug replaced James Ward-Prowse for the second half before the visitors were gifted an equaliser. Having been released by Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jarrod Bowen was given far too much room on the right to cut the ball back to Kudus, whose first-time effort tamely squirmed through the legs of Verbruggen for his first goal since the 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture in December. Both sides had a series of half chances to edge ahead before Soucek looked to have settled the contest seven minutes from time. Bowen was again the creator, delivering a delightful inswinging cross from the right, which was met with a thumping diving header at the far post. But Brighton were level just six minutes later when Brajan Gruda headed Ayari's searching ball back across goal for the unmarked Mitoma to nod home. And, having been on the cusp of an overdue victory, Potter was soon left stunned on the touchline. There looked to be little danger when Baleba collected the ball around 30 yards out before he sparked wild scenes in the stands by curling a sublime left-footed effort into the bottom left corner beyond the static Areola.
Irish Examiner
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Baleba nets Brighton winner to pile misery on Potter and West Ham
Premier League: Brighton 3 West Ham United 2 Carlos Baleba struck a stunning added-time winner as Brighton reignited their European push by piling more misery on former manager Graham Potter with a dramatic 3-2 Premier League victory over West Ham. Potter, who left Albion to join Chelsea in 2022, was on course to have the last laugh at the Amex Stadium after second-half goals from Mohammed Kudus and Tomas Soucek turned the contest in the Hammers' favour following Yasin Ayari's eye-catching opener. But substitute Kaoru Mitoma headed the Seagulls level a minute from time before Baleba sensationally curled home from distance two minutes beyond the 90. The last-gasp victory for Fabian Hurzeler's ninth-placed hosts ended a five-match winless run in the top flight, while West Ham's dismal run extended to a seventh game without success. Potter, who left the pitch to jeers from home fans, has now taken just 13 points from 14 games since replacing Julen Lopetegui as Hammers boss in January. Hammers striker Niclas Fullkrug was dropped to the bench following his public outburst after last weekend's 1-1 draw with relegated Southampton, while Brighton handed Solly March a first start since October 2023 and recalled Ayari as part of their three changes. Potter's only previous return to Albion ended in humiliation when his Chelsea side were thrashed 4-1 in October 2022. His current side fell behind inside 13 minutes following a moment of magic from midfielder Ayari. The Sweden international collected the ball from Jack Hinshelwood around 25 yards out and, with West Ham's defence slow to close down, duly dispatched his maiden Albion goal into the top right corner. Chants of "Potter, Potter, what's the score?" quickly rang around the ground, while the away end added to their manager's problems by singing in support of Germany international Fullkrug. Having created little, West Ham almost levelled in the 32nd minute when Soucek's looping header from Maximilian Kilman's cross was touched on to the crossbar by Albion goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. Brighton winger Simon Adingra then finished on the rebound at the other end but team-mate Mats Wieffer, who had just been denied by Hammers keeper Alphonse Areola, was fractionally offside. With the bottom three of Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton heading for the Sky Bet Championship, 17th-placed West Ham are in danger of finishing as the worst of the rest. Fullkrug replaced James Ward-Prowse for the second half before the visitors were gifted an equaliser. Having been released by Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jarrod Bowen was given far too much room on the right to cut the ball back to Kudus, whose first-time effort tamely squirmed through the legs of Verbruggen for his first goal since the 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture in December. Both sides had a series of half chances to edge ahead before Soucek looked to have settled the contest seven minutes from time. Bowen was again the creator, delivering a delightful inswinging cross from the right, which was met with a thumping diving header at the far post. But Brighton were level just six minutes later when Brajan Gruda headed Ayari's searching ball back across goal for the unmarked Mitoma to nod home. And, having been on the cusp of an overdue victory, Potter was soon left stunned on the touchline. There looked to be little danger when Baleba collected the ball around 30 yards out before he sparked wild scenes in the stands by curling a sublime left-footed effort into the bottom left corner beyond the static Areola. PA
