Roberto De Zerbi says he is “really lucky” to be at a club like Brighton amid reports linking him with the Liverpool job.
The Italian is one of the favourites to take over from Jurgen Klopp when the German leaves Anfield at the end of the season. He has also been linked with the soon-to-be vacant roles at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
But the 44-year-old insists he is fully focused on the job at hand and not concerned with rumours about his future.
“At this moment you are asking me a lot of times if I am leaving but I am still proud to be coach at Brighton,” De Zerbi told the media ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League clash with Brentford.
“I know I am really lucky to work with these players, to work with this club. I’d like to compete with a full squad but I try to play with the players available and I think they are enough.”
He added: “It’s not a problem, it’s a part of my work. At the moment I want to be focused and to keep my eyes on the target we have. I have the contract at the moment. The focus is on the pitch.
“I’m very relaxed and without problems. The problems are the injured players and the preparations for the next game. These are the problems, not the contract or my future.”
De Zerbi last week said he will have to speak with the Brighton hierarchy before committing his future to the club.
“I have not decided my future, and I want to speak with Tony (Bloom, club chairman) to understand his plan and then we will take a decision together without problems,” he said.
The former Shakhtar Donetsk manager led the Seagulls to sixth in the Premier League table last season, their best ever top-flight finish, and the knockout phase of this year’s Europa League.
